Usyk ‘in talks' w/Povetkin for First HW Bout

[oogiebe]

Ryan Taylor: The Ukrainian has decided that the time is right to make the step up to 200lb after an impressive performance saw him grind down Tony Bellew in November to remain the undisputed cruiserweight world champion.

There is belief that the skilful southpaw can eventually prove a serious threat to the likes of Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury but first he needs to build up some experience before earning the chance to take on the super-sized heavyweights.

It’s now looking increasingly likely that the 32-year-old will make his bow in the division against Alexander Povetkin in May after Eddie Hearn confirmed that talks are underway.


Seems like the most logical choice for Usyk's HW debut. Hoping they can work it out!

Full Article:
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/boxing/ ... t-division

[jamamb]

see, thats the type of debut i like, right to a solid contender and none of the time wasting stuff with weaker opponents

gotta respect about usyk that he has just pretty much been going for it as a pro, not really f@cking around. thats how i like to see his time used

i think hell fall short vs the top 3 but he adds a new type of interest to the division and should beat pov clearly

[gregregegg]

Hope this happens, and irealy rate pov, but i hope usyk wins quite easily, because this could incise some of they other top cruisers to move up. With usyk gone, all the cruiser belts have a little * next to them in my mind, love to see some of those guys come up and do some real damage. especially gassiv, decent skills at cruiser, but young, 6'3 225 pound heavyweight gassiv tough as nails, could get a bit done i think. fill in povetkins shoes.

[Contendeh]

I was expecting Sasha to retire after the Joshua fight, but this should do it.

Been a good career.

[Roars Like Me]

Just to play devils advocate here, as all are sure that Usyk wins this. What if he doesn't?

Povetkin beat Huck when he came up, so not beyond the realms of possibility. I'm not even sure Huck ever braved the HW scene since that. I know that Usyk stopped Huck so they both have their victories there.

Again in terms of levels, Usyk is well above Huck and I understand that, before I get nailed for even daring to mention Huck.

So waffle aside, if Usyk loses, does he decide to go back down or keep going at HW?

[bigman1968]

Just to play devils advocate here, as all are sure that Usyk wins this. What if he doesn't?

Povetkin beat Huck when he came up, so not beyond the realms of possibility. I'm not even sure Huck ever braved the HW scene since that. I know that Usyk stopped Huck so they both have their victories there.

Again in terms of levels, Usyk is well above Huck and I understand that, before I get nailed for even daring to mention Huck.

So waffle aside, if Usyk loses, does he decide to go back down or keep going at HW?

Povetkin was 33yo at time he met Huck, with no drug testing to pass.
And I remember watching this fight with friends in Russia. They all agreed with me that Povetkin did not win it, at least...

[Roars Like Me]

Just to play devils advocate here, as all are sure that Usyk wins this. What if he doesn't?

Povetkin beat Huck when he came up, so not beyond the realms of possibility. I'm not even sure Huck ever braved the HW scene since that. I know that Usyk stopped Huck so they both have their victories there.

Again in terms of levels, Usyk is well above Huck and I understand that, before I get nailed for even daring to mention Huck.

So waffle aside, if Usyk loses, does he decide to go back down or keep going at HW?

Povetkin was 33yo at time he met Huck, with no drug testing to pass.
And I remember watching this fight with friends in Russia. They all agreed with me that Povetkin did not win it, at least...

Fair enough on that score. It's more the 'what if' Pov beats him, then what for Usyk?

[SenorPipino]

If there was even a small thought that Usyk could lose, the match wouldn't be made.

Povetkin is simply being brought in as the high profile sacrificial lamb. He's old and on the way down.

If the earth somehow turned upside down and Povetkin pulled off an upset for the ages, I would expect Usyk would remain at heavyweight.

He's going to be sculpting his body into that of a 225 lb. heavyweight. There's no turning back. An immediate rematch would be in order.

But there won't be any need for a return go. Usyk will not lose.

[Eolaithe]

Povetkin-Usyk has been in the works for months. There’s nothing surprising about these “talks”.

Alexander Povetkin struggled badly against David Price and also ran out of gas against Anthony Joshua. I think he's going to lose a lop-sided decision to Oleksandr Usyk. He’s tailor made for the Ukraine.

Povetkin was a really good heavyweight in his heyday, but unfortunately time doesn’t stand still. And it’s clear that the fighter approaching 40 years of age is already past-his-prime and on the decline.

The Russian is going to need to land a lottery-winning style KO punch in order to defeat Usyk, since it seems that Povetkin is unlikely to be able to outbox his opponent.

[greg]

..won't be a gimme for Usyk...win or lose he'll stay where the money is..

[Ilya Muromets]

Sasha the Vityaz Man is my man, but I think - I'm afraid - Usyk will win easily. Povetkin wasted his prime signing up that nut case Atlas in New York City of all places to be his trainer and Atlas was pulling him out of the big money fights. I still can't understand what that was all about. Whose idea was Atlas? Anyway, Usyk is something special. I perceived that the first time i saw him. He also seems to be a great guy personally with an excellent sense of humor. How much do you think he'll weigh for the fight, maybe 210? He shouldn't have shaved off his cossack hair-do tho in my sartorial opinion. It adds power and causes one's opponent to fall to his knees and beg for mercy (OK not really but it looks cool...funny?), but then even I finally did too. I got tired of merchants hovering their index finger over the 911 button when I walked into stores.

[KiwiRider]

I like this matchup.
Hope it happens. Is there a bauble up for grabs? Some lesser regional belt or something, or does the winner get to boff Povitkin's missus?
I'd be up for that.

[tiny_acres]

I like this matchup.
Hope it happens. Is there a bauble up for grabs? Some lesser regional belt or something, or does the winner get to boff Povitkin's missus?
I'd be up for that.

Dude I'd take a 12 round beat down for a piece of his wife

[Gnome]

There's a lot of people on here who think this is a foregone conclusion. Usyk had a tough fight against Breidis, if he takes those sort or shots against Povetkin he will be in trouble.

Povetkin went the distance with Klitschko, his KO loss against Joshua was an anomaly.

I'm high on Usyk, but it's a tough tough HW debut. I won't be putting my money on the table.

[SenorPipino]

There's a lot of people on here who think this is a foregone conclusion. Usyk had a tough fight against Breidis, if he takes those sort or shots against Povetkin he will be in trouble.

Povetkin went the distance with Klitschko, his KO loss against Joshua was an anomaly.

I'm high on Usyk, but it's a tough tough HW debut. I won't be putting my money on the table.

There's no way Usyk would be put in the ring in his heavyweight debut with anyone who has a scintilla of a chance to beat him.

Why extinguish the Usyk heavyweight myth before it even gets off the ground?

Usyk would be in the neighborhood of a 6-1 favorite over Povetkin. Jump on it. It's sure money.

Povetkin was rocked hard by Price and taken out by Joshua. His glory days are behind him.

But as it is, there's no certainty that Povetkin will be the designated victim.

I still like Helenius as an opponent. Much more visually appealing than Povetkin. He's a huge guy, and the casuals will certainly be more impressed if Usyk mows him down than they would be if he whacks out the much smaller Povetkin.

In Usyk-Povetkin, Usyk will be the bigger body. How's a victory over the smallish Russian going to convince anyone that he can turn the same trick and upend the super sized heavyweights?

[Gnome]

There's a lot of people on here who think this is a foregone conclusion. Usyk had a tough fight against Breidis, if he takes those sort or shots against Povetkin he will be in trouble.

Povetkin went the distance with Klitschko, his KO loss against Joshua was an anomaly.

I'm high on Usyk, but it's a tough tough HW debut. I won't be putting my money on the table.

There's no way Usyk would be put in the ring in his heavyweight debut with anyone who has a scintilla of a chance to beat him.

Why extinguish the Usyk heavyweight myth before it even gets off the ground?

Usyk would be in the neighborhood of a 6-1 favorite over Povetkin. Jump on it. It's sure money.

Povetkin was rocked hard by Price and taken out by Joshua. His glory days are behind him.

But as it is, there's no certainty that Povetkin will be the designated victim.

I still like Helenius as an opponent. Much more visually appealing than Povetkin. He's a huge guy, and the casuals will certainly be more impressed if Usyk mows him down than they would be if he whacks out the much smaller Povetkin.

In Usyk-Povetkin, Usyk will be the bigger body. How's a victory over the smallish Russian going to convince anyone that he can turn the same trick and upend the super sized heavyweights?

I agree with you on the last point. They should put him in with a HW giant to show he can handle size.

[KiwiRider]

I agree with you on the last point. They should put him in with a HW giant to show he can handle size.

But who?
Yes, there are a few 6'6"+ guys out there, but I can't think of one that would present enough of an opponent to give Usyk a good intro to HW.
Helineus is done, man. He would have been great a couple of years ago.
As for Povitkin, his style is fairly unique for the HW division at least. Nothing much to learn from there really.

[Pukka Cheese]

Usyk vs Povetkin is a huge fight imo.
Usyk vs Helineus???

[ValMar]

Helenius wasted his potential, nowadays he is a B level HW. Sad, but true.

[ewenhay]

Usyk v Povetkin is the perfect fight at this time. Bit of Russian v Ukrainian beef too.

[greg]

Usyk v Povetkin is the perfect fight at this time. Bit of Russian v Ukrainian beef too.

..I don't know, Usyk seems to have a huge support of the Russian speaking community...

[ValMar]

Usyk v Povetkin is the perfect fight at this time. Bit of Russian v Ukrainian beef too.

..I don't know, Usyk seems to have a huge support of the Russian speaking community...

I hope the both of them are gentlemen, and above the stupid political games.

[ewenhay]

Usyk v Povetkin is the perfect fight at this time. Bit of Russian v Ukrainian beef too.

..I don't know, Usyk seems to have a huge support of the Russian speaking community...

I hope the both of them are gentlemen, and above the stupid political games.

A bit of national rivalry is fine as long as it doesn't spill over into anything nasty

[ValMar]

Usyk v Povetkin is the perfect fight at this time. Bit of Russian v Ukrainian beef too.

..I don't know, Usyk seems to have a huge support of the Russian speaking community...

I hope the both of them are gentlemen, and above the stupid political games.

A bit of national rivalry is fine as long as it doesn't spill over into anything nasty

A bit - it might be, but only - a bit !

[candyslim]

Povetkin is the ideal first foray into the division. He is still a quality opponent despite being well past his best. It's extremely unlikely that Povetkin will upset the script, but it will be a meaningful win for Usyk and valuable experience.

Helenius is big but he is largely irrelevant at world level, and easy meat for someone of Usyk's ability. He showed in schooling Joyce that to beat him size isn't enough. A win over a 2 metre fighter like Joyce or Helenius doesn't really help us determine how he's likely to fare against the big three.

It's difficult to see what he can do to prepare himself for those guys but I think Povetkin is a good start.