Usyk vs Joshua

[TheLeprechaun]

I heard this brought up on a couple of youtube boxing channels and in interviews during the week of the fight. Seemingly the opinion is split on it. Usyk is going to go up to heavyweight now and I think he is straight away in a position to get a shot at Joshua.

I wouldn't hesitate to pick him to beat Whyte, Parker, Chisora etc. I think he is that good. I am not sure he beats Joshua but if he really was bossing Klitschko then it's possible. Could we have just watched the next undisputed heavyweight champ?

[Boxerbeetle]

Joshua beats Usyk imo. I could see Usyk beating all the other heavies - including Wilder and Fury - but not Joshua.

[Ricky]

Usyk would box Joshuas ears off. Mismatch.

[tobyh5]

First thought is the obvious one - too small.

Which I translate to think 1. that not enough firepower to hurt AJ or keep him from fighting aggressively and attacking hard, and that also 2. he will crumble under the might of AJ.

Then, deeper thought is that Usyk has shown sturdyness at cruiser, and it does not matter if it is against smaller men, he can only prove things against the people he has fought and thus far, he can take a punch and no evidence yet to suggest that he cannot take one at heavyweight. Plus of course he beat big heavies in the WSB. And also AJ was not aggressive against Parker who had feck all offence.

If Usyk can carry heavy, I think he outboxes AJ

[JimStone]

I don't get the size argument at all. Are we saying that the only way Joshua loses is if a bigger, stronger individual comes along and duffs him up? I do hope not. Usyk is plenty big enough to beat Joshua. He's 6'3" and will weigh about 225lbs as a heavyweight, lean. It's down to his chin and nothing more for me. Joshua wouldn't take a round off him unless he put him down.

[tobyh5]

I don't get the size argument at all. Are we saying that the only way Joshua loses is if a bigger, stronger individual comes along and duffs him up? I do hope not. Usyk is plenty big enough to beat Joshua. He's 6'3" and will weigh about 225lbs as a heavyweight, lean. It's down to his chin and nothing more for me. Joshua wouldn't take a round off him unless he put him down.

If you don't get how it can be questioned whether a guy who can box at sub 200lb will be able to compete with a big, strong, dominant 250lb champion, well I don't know what to say to you really.

I think Usyk MIGHT be able to hold the weight. We don't know if he can though. And 225lb lean? Nearly two stone of LEAN gain, which means muscle - how is that possible? Going to be some fecking great protein shakes.

[Noxy]

I don't get the size argument at all. Are we saying that the only way Joshua loses is if a bigger, stronger individual comes along and duffs him up? I do hope not. Usyk is plenty big enough to beat Joshua. He's 6'3" and will weigh about 225lbs as a heavyweight, lean. It's down to his chin and nothing more for me. Joshua wouldn't take a round off him unless he put him down.

Good point, to me that’s not what the way to beat Josh, given his size and power. Put someone in with him who has the wrong style for Josh. Hmm, who could that be...

[JimStone]

I don't get the size argument at all. Are we saying that the only way Joshua loses is if a bigger, stronger individual comes along and duffs him up? I do hope not. Usyk is plenty big enough to beat Joshua. He's 6'3" and will weigh about 225lbs as a heavyweight, lean. It's down to his chin and nothing more for me. Joshua wouldn't take a round off him unless he put him down.

If you don't get how it can be questioned whether a guy who can box at sub 200lb will be able to compete with a big, strong, dominant 250lb champion, well I don't know what to say to you really.

I think Usyk MIGHT be able to hold the weight. We don't know if he can though. And 225lb lean? Nearly two stone of LEAN gain, which means muscle - how is that possible? Going to be some fecking great protein shakes.

Two stone? 28lbs? If he's not 212lbs+ right this minute I'll be shocked.

I know you're a bodybuilder so I'm not going to argue the semantics of what lean is and isn't, I mean that at that weight he'll be in excellent shape, no love handles.

[Nightmare Roy]

Nah, bridge too far, not big enough and nothing to hurt AJ

[tobyh5]

I don't get the size argument at all. Are we saying that the only way Joshua loses is if a bigger, stronger individual comes along and duffs him up? I do hope not. Usyk is plenty big enough to beat Joshua. He's 6'3" and will weigh about 225lbs as a heavyweight, lean. It's down to his chin and nothing more for me. Joshua wouldn't take a round off him unless he put him down.

If you don't get how it can be questioned whether a guy who can box at sub 200lb will be able to compete with a big, strong, dominant 250lb champion, well I don't know what to say to you really.

I think Usyk MIGHT be able to hold the weight. We don't know if he can though. And 225lb lean? Nearly two stone of LEAN gain, which means muscle - how is that possible? Going to be some fecking great protein shakes.

Two stone? 28lbs? If he's not 212lbs+ right this minute I'll be shocked.

I know you're a bodybuilder so I'm not going to argue the semantics of what lean is and isn't, I mean that at that weight he'll be in excellent shape, no love handles.

Yeah he is probably 210-215 by fight time in fairness. I made my point badly.

A guy who can make 200lb at a weight, and not be rock hard is giving away huge natural size. Will it matter? I am not sure, and you and no one can say that it will NOT matter as no way of knowing until it happens. We can summarise though and I lean towards it counting against him and making the difference.

[lillywhite14]

I keep changing my mind on this one.

I actually think Usyk underperformed a bit last night. At times I was thinking Joshua would take him apart.

His best chance wouldn’t be to pack on too much weight. Just eat well, train hard etc and whatever weight he comes in at, fine. Movement and speed are the key obviously.

[Boxerbeetle]

It would be a fascinating fight, and the more I think about it, the more I want to see it. Make it happen Eddie!

[JimStone]

If you don't get how it can be questioned whether a guy who can box at sub 200lb will be able to compete with a big, strong, dominant 250lb champion, well I don't know what to say to you really.

I think Usyk MIGHT be able to hold the weight. We don't know if he can though. And 225lb lean? Nearly two stone of LEAN gain, which means muscle - how is that possible? Going to be some fecking great protein shakes.

Two stone? 28lbs? If he's not 212lbs+ right this minute I'll be shocked.

I know you're a bodybuilder so I'm not going to argue the semantics of what lean is and isn't, I mean that at that weight he'll be in excellent shape, no love handles.

Yeah he is probably 210-215 by fight time in fairness. I made my point badly.

A guy who can make 200lb at a weight, and not be rock hard is giving away huge natural size. Will it matter? I am not sure, and you and no one can say that it will NOT matter as no way of knowing until it happens. We can summarise though and I lean towards it counting against him and making the difference.

Joe Joyce is a big man, no? Usyk had no problems taking five rounds out of five against him.

[stujones]

I thought Usyk was very much in Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor mode yesterday. Personally I thought he was fantastic last night. Bellew was at his very best but I felt even though the fight was close at the time, Usyk looked in complete control.... he looked so relaxed under pressure.

I think he needs to acclimatise a bit at Heavy, but I think he could box Joshua's ears off. Its a really intriguing fight. I honestly thought Parker gave Joshua some problems, remember some, albeit outlandish views, thought Parker beat Joshua. I feel Usyk beats Parker 10 times out of 10. AJ's power is key. If Usyk can take them, then I think he has the ring IQ to beat AJ.

I'd love to see both Usyk and Breidis step up.... I wouldn't write off Breidis against some of the best Heavies either.

[PredatorHayds]

The Joyce performance was one of the best I’ve ever seen from an amateur standpoint.

I really rate AJ. But if you’ve got a gun to my head, I’d be edging Usyk on Points.
I used to think he could box his ears off. But AJ didn’t something all GREAT heavys can do against Parker. He boxed to instructions and nullified his opponent.
AJ is an improving fighter. The longer the wait, the more I favour AJ.
But in 2019 I’d be edging Usyk.

[Boxerbeetle]

Two stone? 28lbs? If he's not 212lbs+ right this minute I'll be shocked.

I know you're a bodybuilder so I'm not going to argue the semantics of what lean is and isn't, I mean that at that weight he'll be in excellent shape, no love handles.

Yeah he is probably 210-215 by fight time in fairness. I made my point badly.

A guy who can make 200lb at a weight, and not be rock hard is giving away huge natural size. Will it matter? I am not sure, and you and no one can say that it will NOT matter as no way of knowing until it happens. We can summarise though and I lean towards it counting against him and making the difference.

Joe Joyce is a big man, no? Usyk had no problems taking five rounds out of five against him.

Come on now, Joyce is absolutely nowhere near Joshua.

Size is clearly a factor, otherwise all cruisers would come up to win belts at heavy. Obviously Usyk is genuinely elite, but it’s impossible to know how he’d react to power like Joshua’s.

[tobyh5]

Two stone? 28lbs? If he's not 212lbs+ right this minute I'll be shocked.

I know you're a bodybuilder so I'm not going to argue the semantics of what lean is and isn't, I mean that at that weight he'll be in excellent shape, no love handles.

Yeah he is probably 210-215 by fight time in fairness. I made my point badly.

A guy who can make 200lb at a weight, and not be rock hard is giving away huge natural size. Will it matter? I am not sure, and you and no one can say that it will NOT matter as no way of knowing until it happens. We can summarise though and I lean towards it counting against him and making the difference.

Joe Joyce is a big man, no? Usyk had no problems taking five rounds out of five against him.

Yeah I have been thinking about the Joyce one, but he is a bit of a clumsy oaf to be honest. No polish at all. Flings crude shots and relies on great engine, size and strength. AJ is very textbook and straight ahead with a ramrod jab. Very different. But the size point of your post is taken on board.

[JimStone]

Come on now, Joyce is absolutely nowhere near Joshua.

He was absolutely nowhere near Usyk either depsite being the same size as Joshua and a future Super Heavyweight Olympic silver medalist.

I want to see Usyk v Joshua. Holyfield did okay against Bowe, best heavyweight trilogy by far. Give me some of that.

[Oiky]

Usyk will box Joshua's ears in

[Boxerbeetle]

Usyk will box Joshua's ears in

How do you think Usyk would do against Fury?

[Alba]

Get usyk in with a few heavy weight before to get him used to it and I think he would be competitive

[Stuarty]

Team Usyk

[leejonesjnr]

The moment Usyk lands a punch on Joshua we would know the outcome.
If he can punch with enough power to gain Joshua’s respect then he wins clearly on points. If not then he wins every round up until the point he gets walked into a corner and stopped.

[smiling assassin]

I think he's got a good chance of beating the big fella. Usyk is a master technician with great footwork. Joshua is abit predictable and struggles with good movers. I think Usyk beats every heqvyweight out there barring Fury and Joshua. Fury just to big for him and Joshua is a real 50-50

[skanksta]

It's no mismatch - either way - and we all want to see it.

Usyk is the nuts - so no reason he won't have the success at HW of Haye and The Real Deal
Just like those two though, he'll eventually run in to the old boxing cliche - a good big'un beats a good littl'un.

Of course AJ isn't as good as Usyk - but with 3inches and 2 stone, he doesn't have to be.