Usyk at the HW division

[apollo creed]

Usyk is gonna fight in May at HW. There is no doubt that Usyk is a true champion with great accomplishments but I wonder if going up at HW against those mutants with big power won't be a reckless move for Usyk? Look at Loma when he fought bigger guys like Linares and Pedraza (and those were not even top level) and Loma didn't look so 'Matrix'.

[JxhDel.]

He is already heavy as a cruiser, i fear going HW would be really demanding for him

[oogiebe]

He'll be more of a boxer/puncher at HW. His output would be more than the top guys in the division and at the very least, it'll be interesting. I don't see an issue for him to be around 220-230 comfortably. His power will not be lost on the questionable chins of AJ and Wilder. Fury is another animal altogether. Tyson would be his toughest fight IMHO.

[SenorPipino]

He'll do fine.

At 6'3" and about 225 pounds, Usyk won't exactly be a midget out there.

A solid heavyweight.

Size is so overrated. Skills always win out.

[jamamb]

pedraza landed at like 10 percent vs loma and got outlanded by like 100 plu punches and dropped twice

i dont like usyk vs aj, fury, or wilder.....but vs guys like pov, parker, pulev etc i think hed win

[oogiebe]

pedraza landed at like 10 percent vs loma

?

[jamamb]

pedraza landed at like 10 percent vs loma

?

read the opening post

[oogiebe]

pedraza landed at like 10 percent vs loma

?

read the opening post

Got it. It would help to include what you're replying to.

[jamamb]

would help to read the opening post too

[oogiebe]

would help to read the posts too

I knew that was coming.

[Onetimeonly]

He'd be a real problem for fury.

[oogiebe]

He'd be a real problem for fury.

I'm not seeing that. I think Fury's length and ability to move for such a big guy would be a real frustration to Usyk. I hope we get to see it. Fury is such an enigma to me.

[caldo2025]

It all comes down to the chin. I imagine that there’s a reason why he chose to drop considerable weight to fight in Boxing’s Junior Varsity Division which is CW. If he can take a pop then his speed and output will be a problem for anyone. But it’s all for not if he can’t take the shots that the top 5 guys can. You need a sledgehammer to knock these top guys out.

[oogiebe]

I'd like to see him against Oscar Rivas

Too small. Doesn't move Usyk forward in the division, IMHO. He's going to go after top competition.

[oogiebe]

I'd like to see him against Oscar Rivas

Too small. Doesn't move Usyk forward in the division, IMHO. He's going to go after top competition.

Who would you suggest? Breazeale? Helenius?

They are not top competition. Povetkin would be my guess.

[oogiebe]

Who would you suggest? Breazeale? Helenius?

They are not top competition. Povetkin would be my guess.

So Rivas is too small but Povetkin isn't? Or do you mean to small in fame?

Povetkin at least is a top fighter in the division. Rivas is around 6' and only faced one real test (big guy in mass). Povetkin is 6'2" and has been fighting top competition for years. Rivas provides nothing for Usyk. Povetkin would launch him into a title fight.

[oogiebe]

So Rivas is too small but Povetkin isn't? Or do you mean to small in fame?

Povetkin at least is a top fighter in the division. Rivas is around 6' and only faced one real test (big guy in mass). Povetkin is 6'2" and has been fighting top competition for years. Rivas provides nothing for Usyk. Povetkin would launch him into a title fight.

The official WBO rules guarantee him a titleshot already, even by fighting Richard Lartey don't they?

He allows him to be ranked #1, but I've not heard of him being mandatory. He's not going to fight a lower tiered HW.

EDIT: It does make him mandatory for WBO.

[oogiebe]

Povetkin at least is a top fighter in the division. Rivas is around 6' and only faced one real test (big guy in mass). Povetkin is 6'2" and has been fighting top competition for years. Rivas provides nothing for Usyk. Povetkin would launch him into a title fight.

The official WBO rules guarantee him a titleshot already, even by fighting Richard Lartey don't they?

He allows him to be ranked #1, but I've not heard of him being mandatory. He's not going to fight a lower tiered HW.

EDIT: It does make him mandatory for WBO.

Boxing News: The move up to heavyweight will result in Usyk being given a #1 ranking with the World Boxing Organization and made the immediate mandatory for WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. As the WBO cruiserweight champion, it allows Usyk to be installed at #1 with the WBO at heavyweight without needing to beat anyone. Usyk does intend on facing a good heavyweight in his first fight in May. He won’t be just given a fight against Joshua straightaway like some boxing fans think.

[oogiebe]

He allows him to be ranked #1, but I've not heard of him being mandatory. He's not going to fight a lower tiered HW.
EDIT: It does make him mandatory for WBO.

Boxing News: The move up to heavyweight will result in Usyk being given a #1 ranking with the World Boxing Organization and made the immediate mandatory for WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. As the WBO cruiserweight champion, it allows Usyk to be installed at #1 with the WBO at heavyweight without needing to beat anyone. Usyk does intend on facing a good heavyweight in his first fight in May. He won’t be just given a fight against Joshua straightaway like some boxing fans think.

Thanks for proving me right, I think Rivas would be a good fight, a good fight without too much risk.

You're welcome. I wanted to ensure the facts were straight. Rivas won't be his opponent. We'll know soon enough. Heard Michael Hunter and Povetkin as possibilities, and to a lesser extent, Ortiz.

[dagilechia]

Usyk will be top 5 at worst, #1 at best

[Syntax Error]

He'll be more of a boxer/puncher at HW. His output would be more than the top guys in the division and at the very least, it'll be interesting. I don't see an issue for him to be around 220-230 comfortably. His power will not be lost on the questionable chins of AJ and Wilder. Fury is another animal altogether. Tyson would be his toughest fight IMHO.

Agree with this.

I can't see him beating Fury, basically because Fury is so awkward and Usyk won't have any tangible skillset advantage over Fury.

I can see him outpointing Wilder comfortably, but he's going to need a chin like Oliver McCall or recuperative powers like Larry Holmes as insurance.

I'm not so certain about Joshua though.

[skanksta]

pedraza landed at like 10 percent vs loma and got outlanded by like 100 plu punches and dropped twice

i dont like usyk vs aj, fury, or wilder.....but vs guys like pov, parker, pulev etc i think hed win

x2.
Usyk will box the ears off all the humdrum HWs and probably KO them at his leisure too, but once he gets to the 'big 3' ..?
Surely they are good enough to make the size count

I mean Usyk is easily more skilled than AJ, but how good do you have to be to beat a guy two weight divisions below ?

I really want to see him fight The Juggernaut again. It was a masterful Usyk win in the WSB, but no guarantees of the same result over 12..

[fanman]

Usyk will be top 5 at worst, #1 at best

big gap between #1 and #5! it's a bit risky to his health in my opinion, but i guess they will chuck tonnes of money at him at this point.