Whyte: I Don't Think Usyk Will Do Well at Heavyweight

[HomicideHenry]

Until Usyk beats a solid, legitimate, skillful guy 6'5"+ 240+ I'm not going to really bother thinking about the man. Many good/great "little men" in the passed 30 years couldn't really do the job--- Toney, Jones, Adamek, Cunningham, Haye, Jirov, etc--- so it's difficult to see Usyk doing it.

Everyone's saying he's better than Holyfield was at cruiserweight, but imho those are words of desperation because we haven't seen truly great "small men" in a long time. It's jumping the shark. This man will find out fast that all his skills and determination will not overthrow physics--- Wilder, Joshua and Fury without question defeats him.

[Stuarty]

It's a kind of magic

Mon the Bears

[Stuarty]

Until Usyk beats a solid, legitimate, skillful guy 6'5"+ 240+ I'm not going to really bother thinking about the man. Many good/great "little men" in the passed 30 years couldn't really do the job--- Toney, Jones, Adamek, Cunningham, Haye, Jirov, etc--- so it's difficult to see Usyk doing it.

Everyone's saying he's better than Holyfield was at cruiserweight, but imho those are words of desperation because we haven't seen truly great "small men" in a long time. It's jumping the shark. This man will find out fast that all his skills and determination will not overthrow physics--- Wilder, Joshua and Fury without question defeats him.

Who's more skilful than Usyk though Henry? All the guys you mentioned there didn't have the talent this guy has (Toney being the exception but he was a burger merchant at heavyweight).... Jones went up and won a heavy strap. These guys shouldn't really be spoken about though.... They were middleweights

[jamamb]

Until Usyk beats a solid, legitimate, skillful guy 6'5"+ 240+ I'm not going to really bother thinking about the man. Many good/great "little men" in the passed 30 years couldn't really do the job--- Toney, Jones, Adamek, Cunningham, Haye, Jirov, etc--- so it's difficult to see Usyk doing it.

Everyone's saying he's better than Holyfield was at cruiserweight, but imho those are words of desperation because we haven't seen truly great "small men" in a long time. It's jumping the shark. This man will find out fast that all his skills and determination will not overthrow physics--- Wilder, Joshua and Fury without question defeats him.

how many skillful 6'5+ 240+ guys are around now

and im pretty sure u just made up that every single person is saying he better then holy, weve had several threads here were lot disagreed

[HomicideHenry]

Just because someone may be the most skillful guy at 195 pounds doesn't mean they can win the heavyweight title from men over 6'6" & 240 pounds who are the most skillful at their weight class.

Look, I love a good underdog story--- but everyone is acting like this is some forgone conclusion that Usyk will be heavyweight champion. I'm sorry but that'll never happen as long as AJ, DW, & TF are around.

This isn't like the movies (Rocky IV) where some miniscule guy is going to topple a mountain of muscle. Tommy Loughran is one of the greatest of all time and even he lost wide to Primo Carnera.

[Stuarty]

Just because someone may be the most skillful guy at 195 pounds doesn't mean they can win the heavyweight title from men over 6'6" & 240 pounds who are the most skillful at their weight class.

Look, I love a good underdog story--- but everyone is acting like this is some forgone conclusion that Usyk will be heavyweight champion. I'm sorry but that'll never happen as long as AJ, DW, & TF are around.

This isn't like the movies (Rocky IV) where some miniscule guy is going to topple a mountain of muscle. Tommy Loughran is one of the greatest of all time and even he lost wide to Primo Carnera.

Roy Jones went up and done it. I get that the heavies are a different game altogether but Usyk has more skill than AJ in my opinion and it would be interesting to see if he could keep him off. Makes for a good fight.

[HomicideHenry]

Roy Jones also picked the absolute weakest "champion" possible and still needed the referee to basically protect him throughout the entire fight in order to beat Ruiz. The mere fact he chose not to fight Holyfield, Byrd, Tyson, etc shows that Jones knew from the get go the heavyweight venture was a one-time deal.

The top five (legitimate top five) heavyweights are just too big and strong and skillful and athletic for Usyk. I have no doubt he'd out-box the lumbering Baby Miller's of the world, but he'll never break beyond that level.

[jamamb]

who are the top 5 who would be just too much? fury, aj, wilder....then who?

[Stuarty]

Roy Jones also picked the absolute weakest "champion" possible and still needed the referee to basically protect him throughout the entire fight in order to beat Ruiz. The mere fact he chose not to fight Holyfield, Byrd, Tyson, etc shows that Jones knew from the get go the heavyweight venture was a one-time deal.

The top five (legitimate top five) heavyweights are just too big and strong and skillful and athletic for Usyk. I have no doubt he'd out-box the lumbering Baby Miller's of the world, but he'll never break beyond that level.

I dunno mate. I'll need to politely disagree. He's not big enough and his lack of power would let him down but I think he has the tools to upset some of the big boys especially AJ and Wilder. He's an exciting addition IMO

[HomicideHenry]

He'll be an interesting addition to the division, yes, but I think Wilder would crush him--- too reckless, and it only takes one punch. AJ would be the easiest fight for him, but you're never getting a decision over him in England (let's be honest). Fury, forget it... Too tall, elusive, etc.

[Stuarty]

He'll be an interesting addition to the division, yes, but I think Wilder would crush him--- too reckless, and it only takes one punch. AJ would be the easiest fight for him, but you're never getting a decision over him in England (let's be honest). Fury, forget it... Too tall, elusive, etc.

I'd agree that he'd struggle against Fury because Fury can box and could move with him. I honestly think he'd beat AJ and Wilder. He's a top class fighter and these guys tend to find a way and I think he'd find a way.

[HomicideHenry]

Believe you me I want AJ to lose badly, but I don't think anyone's going to unless they knock him out. He's got Britain and the mainstream media darlings wrapped around his finger.

Wilder--- he's a wild card. He can look absolutely look like dogshit for most of the fight and then he hits somebody from some goofy dumbass angle and they're gone. So I can't really rule him out.

I do believe 100% Usyk will more than earn his way into a title shot, but I can't see him winning off of those three men.

[overhand_right]

Roy Jones also picked the absolute weakest "champion" possible and still needed the referee to basically protect him throughout the entire fight in order to beat Ruiz. The mere fact he chose not to fight Holyfield, Byrd, Tyson, etc shows that Jones knew from the get go the heavyweight venture was a one-time deal.

Wrong as always, Henry. It was Holyfield who didn't want to fight Jones, not the other way round.

Also, when you say he 'needed the ref to protect him from Ruiz,' do you mean that the referee, for once, stopped Ruiz from employing his spoiling mauling illegal style and forced him to actually box as boxers are expected to do in boxing matches where they are defending a boxing title?

[Onetimeonly]

I'd agree that he'd struggle against Fury because Fury can box and could move with him. I honestly think he'd beat AJ and Wilder. He's a top class fighter and these guys tend to find a way and I think he'd find a way.

Fury lands like 4 punches a Rd, I think usyk would box him silly.

[Onetimeonly]

Wrong as always, Henry. It was Holyfield who didn't want to fight Jones, not the other way round.

Also, when you say he 'needed the ref to protect him from Ruiz,' do you mean that the referee, for once, stopped Ruiz from employing his spoiling mauling illegal style and forced him to actually box as boxers are expected to do in boxing matches where they are defending a boxing title?

Holy field was more than willing to fight anyone. Pretty sure he fought toney right around the same time. Jones wouldn't fight douglas.

[overhand_right]

Holy field was more than willing to fight anyone. Pretty sure he fought toney right around the same time. Jones wouldn't fight douglas.

No, Holyfield turned down the fight. Yes, he later did fight Toney, a totally different proposition. Tyson didn't much fancy Jones in 2003 either.

Jones opted not to fight Douglas in 1998, so you're conflating events half a decade apart.

[Onetimeonly]

No, Holyfield turned down the fight. Yes, he later did fight Toney, a totally different proposition. Tyson didn't much fancy Jones in 2003 either.

Jones opted not to fight Douglas in 1998, so you're conflating events half a decade apart.

Nonsense.

[overhand_right]

Nonsense.

Let's agree to disagree because I can't be bothered exhuming my print mags from 2003.

[Onetimeonly]

Let's agree to disagree because I can't be bothered exhuming my print mags from 2003.

Not a big deal, but it makes no sense. There was talk of a bout, nothing more.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fury lands like 4 punches a Rd, I think usyk would box him silly.

Fury will meet his match if and when he ever steps in the ring with Usyk.

[Grilling Machine]

I don't think Usyk will ever be as good as Holyfield, but that's comparing him to the man who stood up to Foreman, Bowe, Tyson and Lewis. And for his height, reach, relative lack of power and conditioning, Toney did tremendously well at heavy. A great chin and top defensive skills took him so far by themselves.

Bowe and Lewis were better versions of AJ for my money, so Usyk doesn't have to be as good as Holyfield to be competitive against him. I find it hard to believe that Holyfield wouldn't have outworked Fury, survived anything AJ might've caught him with, and been too good to walk into anything from Wilder. Holyfield, Tyson, Bowe and Lewis in their primes would all be the main man today. Is what I reckon!

[lillywhite14]

I think that’s a pretty fair assessment as it stands.

Unless one of them utterly dominates the rest ( obviously excludes both Fury and Wilder ) then it’s oretty much spot on.

[Oiky]

Disagree with Whyte,I think usyk will do very well at heavy

[coneye]

There is a saying a good Big en will always beat a good Little en ,,, thats why they have weight divisions ,

[tobyh5]

There is a saying a good Big en will always beat a good Little en ,,, thats why they have weight divisions ,

That saying has been disproven as many times as it has been proven