Oleksandr Usyk vs. Carlos Takam - May 25, 2019?

[oogiebe]

there was always discussion of a few opponents....including carlos t.

Takam entered the conversation later in the rumor mill. We heard Povetkin; Ortiz; and even Parker. Having Takam after hearing those three names is a disappointment. We heard from Usyk's camp that he would forgo lower level competition and 'dive right in.'

[jamamb]

there was plenty of talk of opponents and many names were thrown around wth carlo being among those that kept gettng brought up to the end. . no guarantee that wed get someone really good. surely by now youve learned not too get hopes up too much. cant really blame team usy imo

[oogiebe]

there was plenty of talk of opponents and many names were thrown around. no guarantee that wed get someone really good. surely by now youve learned not too get hopes up too much. cant really blame team usy imo

The funny thing is that at first I was calling for Usyk to take an easy first HW fight to get a feel for the division. Then all the other big names got mentioned and talked about by Uysk's own camp. So now I'm disappointed that his camp talked one way and went another. Just like Fury, only not quite that bad!

[oogiebe]

And you're right Jam. You'd think I'd have that grain of salt now and then!

[SenorPipino]

He’s given a pass surely? Would this Takam beat Schwarz?

Usyk is entitled to a feeling out fight at this weight imo. It’s a big jump between cruiser and heavyweight. I’m sure once he’s beaten Takam he’ll move on quickly. Can he stop Carlos?

I don't think he'll stop him. He'll win a lopsided UD though.

If Takam is as lethargic as he looked against Gashi, yeah I think that Usyk will KO him.

Those stoppage losses to Joshua and Chisora may have taken plenty wind out of Takam's sails.

[Ruthless-RKO]

there was always discussion of a few opponents....including carlos t.

Takam entered the conversation later in the rumor mill. We heard Povetkin; Ortiz; and even Parker. Having Takam after hearing those three names is a disappointment. We heard from Usyk's camp that he would forgo lower level competition and 'dive right in.'

That’s the thing with gossip and the internet. Nothing is hidden. Everything is known to the public.

[gilgamesh]

He’s given a pass surely? Would this Takam beat Schwarz?

Usyk is entitled to a feeling out fight at this weight imo. It’s a big jump between cruiser and heavyweight. I’m sure once he’s beaten Takam he’ll move on quickly. Can he stop Carlos?

I don't think he'll stop him. He'll win a lopsided UD though.

Everyone will be watching. That said, he'll have to make a statement showing that his power will need to be respected at HW. So I'm hoping, for his sake, that he does in fact stop Takam.

Anthony Joshua couldn't stop Takam without the referee's help. Usyk likely ain't gonna do it. HIs power isn't his defining factor as a Fighter even at Cruiserweight. His skill is.

[gilgamesh]

He’s given a pass surely? Would this Takam beat Schwarz?

Usyk is entitled to a feeling out fight at this weight imo. It’s a big jump between cruiser and heavyweight. I’m sure once he’s beaten Takam he’ll move on quickly. Can he stop Carlos?

I don't think he'll stop him. He'll win a lopsided UD though.

If Takam is as lethargic as he looked against Gashi, yeah I think that Usyk will KO him.

Those stoppage losses to Joshua and Chisora may have taken plenty wind out of Takam's sails.

Joshua wouldn't have even stopped him at all if not for the referee just jumping in, and giving him a stoppage to save his rep.

[greg]

...I for one will be impressed if Usyk stops him..

[KiwiRider]

He’s given a pass surely? Would this Takam beat Schwarz?

Usyk is entitled to a feeling out fight at this weight imo. It’s a big jump between cruiser and heavyweight. I’m sure once he’s beaten Takam he’ll move on quickly. Can he stop Carlos?

I don't think he'll stop him. He'll win a lopsided UD though.

Everyone will be watching. That said, he'll have to make a statement showing that his power will need to be respected at HW. So I'm hoping, for his sake, that he does in fact stop Takam.

Anthony Joshua couldn't stop Takam without the referee's help. Usyk likely ain't gonna do it. HIs power isn't his defining factor as a Fighter even at Cruiserweight. His skill is.

The cut was bad. The blood was affecting his vision. We've seen plenty of fights stopped by cuts that bad. Takem is a warrior, yes he could have fought on, but at some stage you have to make a call, and I didn't think the call to stop it was a bad one.

[Ruthless-RKO]

He’s given a pass surely? Would this Takam beat Schwarz?

Usyk is entitled to a feeling out fight at this weight imo. It’s a big jump between cruiser and heavyweight. I’m sure once he’s beaten Takam he’ll move on quickly. Can he stop Carlos?

I don't think he'll stop him. He'll win a lopsided UD though.

Everyone will be watching. That said, he'll have to make a statement showing that his power will need to be respected at HW. So I'm hoping, for his sake, that he does in fact stop Takam.

Anthony Joshua couldn't stop Takam without the referee's help. Usyk likely ain't gonna do it. HIs power isn't his defining factor as a Fighter even at Cruiserweight. His skill is.

The cut was bad. The blood was affecting his vision. We've seen plenty of fights stopped by cuts that bad. Takem is a warrior, yes he could have fought on, but at some stage you have to make a call, and I didn't think the call to stop it was a bad one.

It wasn’t affecting him that much. He actually had a pretty decent round before the ref stopped it.

[gilgamesh]

He’s given a pass surely? Would this Takam beat Schwarz?

Usyk is entitled to a feeling out fight at this weight imo. It’s a big jump between cruiser and heavyweight. I’m sure once he’s beaten Takam he’ll move on quickly. Can he stop Carlos?

I don't think he'll stop him. He'll win a lopsided UD though.

Everyone will be watching. That said, he'll have to make a statement showing that his power will need to be respected at HW. So I'm hoping, for his sake, that he does in fact stop Takam.

Anthony Joshua couldn't stop Takam without the referee's help. Usyk likely ain't gonna do it. HIs power isn't his defining factor as a Fighter even at Cruiserweight. His skill is.

The cut was bad. The blood was affecting his vision. We've seen plenty of fights stopped by cuts that bad. Takem is a warrior, yes he could have fought on, but at some stage you have to make a call, and I didn't think the call to stop it was a bad one.

I didn't even recall that he was cut so the cut wasn't that bad.

[leejonesjnr]

He’s given a pass surely? Would this Takam beat Schwarz?

Usyk is entitled to a feeling out fight at this weight imo. It’s a big jump between cruiser and heavyweight. I’m sure once he’s beaten Takam he’ll move on quickly. Can he stop Carlos?

I don't think he'll stop him. He'll win a lopsided UD though.

Everyone will be watching. That said, he'll have to make a statement showing that his power will need to be respected at HW. So I'm hoping, for his sake, that he does in fact stop Takam.

Anthony Joshua couldn't stop Takam without the referee's help. Usyk likely ain't gonna do it. HIs power isn't his defining factor as a Fighter even at Cruiserweight. His skill is.

The cut was bad. The blood was affecting his vision. We've seen plenty of fights stopped by cuts that bad. Takem is a warrior, yes he could have fought on, but at some stage you have to make a call, and I didn't think the call to stop it was a bad one.

I didn't even recall that he was cut so the cut wasn't that bad.

Your failure to recollect that his eyelid was split through doesn’t mean he wasn’t badly cut, it just means you don’t remember.

I have no idea why anyone has a problem with this being Usyks move up fight. World title challenger who acquitted himself well and has mixed well with good level boxers.
I believe that Usyk could stop him but it will not be the result of a power punch, it will be accuracy in the same way that he turned Bellews lights out with one precise shot.

[Ilya Muromets]

I predict that Usyk will win a spectacularly one sided destruction with Takam finally declining to come out for the next round. Usyk is something special, something different. I saw that when I first watched him, same thing I said when I first saw the Klitschkos.

[Ruthless-RKO]

“Usyk has now moved up to heavyweight, he’ll be fighting Carlos Takam,” Hearn said to IFL TV.

“We’re just sorting out the date, we were going to go for May 18th but now [Deontay] Wilder’s going on that date, we don’t want to clash with that show. We’re just tinkering, May 17th or possibly the 25th. That will all be decided by Monday at the latest.

“It will be heavyweight, it will be Carlos Takam next for Usyk.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

Apparently a date has not been set.

Maybe Friday night fight.

[SenorPipino]

The Sor Rungvasai-Estrada rematch is also scheduled for a Friday.

Maybe it will become a new go-to day for some major fight cards.

[jujigatame]

Honestly I'd have preferred he jump straight in against Joshua.

Usyk is basically the same size as Povetkin. He's not making the huge leap that some people seem to believe.

[Onetimeonly]

The Sor Rungvasai-Estrada rematch is also scheduled for a Friday.

Maybe it will become a new go-to day for some major fight cards.

Usyks handlers wisely refused to have it the same night as wilders next fight in spite of Eddie wanting to go h2h. I love big fights going back to during the week.

[SenorPipino]

The Sor Rungvasai-Estrada rematch is also scheduled for a Friday.

Maybe it will become a new go-to day for some major fight cards.

Usyks handlers wisely refused to have it the same night as wilders next fight in spite of Eddie wanting to go h2h. I love big fights going back to during the week.

Back in the 70s and 80s, the big closed-circuit/PPV fights were all over the place.

Many were frequently scheduled for a Monday, Tuesday or Thursday. For some reason, promoters shied away from Wednesday.

Eventually Arum settled on Friday nights and King slated his bouts for Saturdays.

After a few years, Arum also began holding his cards on Saturday.

It looks like big boxing cards may finally be on the move again.

[Onetimeonly]

Monday night boxing was great when football season was off. Last big Monday card I remember was hagler/Leonard.

[Ruthless-RKO]

The Sor Rungvasai-Estrada rematch is also scheduled for a Friday.

Maybe it will become a new go-to day for some major fight cards.

Usyks handlers wisely refused to have it the same night as wilders next fight in spite of Eddie wanting to go h2h. I love big fights going back to during the week.

GOOD!

I'd rather enjoy both fights.

[jujigatame]

I don't love midweek cards unless theyre early enough not to screw up my sleep schedule. If a card stretches past midnight I really can't stay up to watch on a work night.

Also simultaneous cards aren't as big a problem as they used to be because of DVR.

[Contendeh]

Fight is now set for May 25th. Moved from Chicago to Maryland.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Oleksandr Usyk will make his heavyweight debut against Carlos Takam at the MGM National Harbor in Maryland on May 25, live on Sky Sports.

Usyk's bid to win world titles at heavyweight will begin with a test against French-Cameroonian Takam (36-5-1 28KOs).

Takam challenged Anthony Joshua for the IBF, WBA and IBO World titles in October 2017, taking the Briton ten rounds, and recently starred in a fight-of-the-year contender with Derek Chisora in July 2018.

"May 25 marks a major moment in my career when I move to the heavyweight division," said Usyk.

"At cruiserweight I did it all and became the undisputed champion and that is my goal now in the heavyweights.

"This is the ultimate challenge and it begins on May 25 against Carlos Takam. It's a tough first fight but I need to test myself against world class opposition on my new road to undisputed."

"Usyk has achieved everything in the cruiserweight division - I am ready to welcome him to the new world of heavyweight boxing," said Takam.

"I can promise that this will be a great fight and I will provide Usyk with a huge test on his heavyweight debut. I have huge ambitions of my own in the division and this fight will provide me with the chance to prove that."

"The time has come for the ultimate challenge for Oleksandr Usyk," said promoter Eddie Hearn.

"This pound-for-pound star had dominated the cruiserweight division becoming undisputed champion after just 15 fights. Now he takes the daring leap to the land of the giants as he attempts to repeat his achievements in the heavyweight division.