Anthony Joshua vs. Oleksandr Usyk - September 25, 2021

[KiwiRider]

Boxing experts?
Is there really such a thing?

Yep.
They are the ones with this > next to their user names. Please respect that.

[Cent0089]

I know majority sport fans in US are NFL and NBA oriented. Is this fight making any noise overseas ? It is pretty big deal in HW boxing

[Cyclops]

Usyk takes AJ late and drowns him. Usyk by KO in the championship rounds.

[Bandog]

Usyk wins this one. His movement will frustrate AJ, and eventually fatigue him enough to gas late. Usyk by KO 11. Hopefully the ref won't be a factor, or judge cards, but typically they do favor AJ. If it goes to the cards, I'm guessing AJ will get a Canelo type decision.

After Wilder KO's Fury, I'll look forward to him vs Usyk next year.

Thank the Lord you have Usyk winning! As a Joshua fan I had been starting to get very nervous.

Do you seriously think Team Wilder would entertain the notion of fighting Usyk if they both win? You're a funny guy Bandog.

Why wouldn't he? There is a rematch clause, so that's a year off even if it is an opportunity.

[margaret thatcher]

Usyk wins this one. His movement will frustrate AJ, and eventually fatigue him enough to gas late. Usyk by KO 11. Hopefully the ref won't be a factor, or judge cards, but typically they do favor AJ. If it goes to the cards, I'm guessing AJ will get a Canelo type decision.

After Wilder KO's Fury, I'll look forward to him vs Usyk next year.

Thank the Lord you have Usyk winning! As a Joshua fan I had been starting to get very nervous.

Do you seriously think Team Wilder would entertain the notion of fighting Usyk if they both win? You're a funny guy Bandog.

Why wouldn't he? There is a rematch clause, so that's a year off even if it is an opportunity.

is deontay the best hw in the world do you think, since hes gonna ko fury

[Evander]

Joshua 240
Usyk 221.25
18 pound weight advantage.
Both look in good shape.
Usyk filled out around the stomach area, can't see him putting on much weight overnight.
Joshua had a bit more room for added weight, we'll see if he chooses to do so tomorrow.
I'm anticipating an entertaining fight, let's hope it delivers.

[candyslim]

Usyk wins this one. His movement will frustrate AJ, and eventually fatigue him enough to gas late. Usyk by KO 11. Hopefully the ref won't be a factor, or judge cards, but typically they do favor AJ. If it goes to the cards, I'm guessing AJ will get a Canelo type decision.

After Wilder KO's Fury, I'll look forward to him vs Usyk next year.

Thank the Lord you have Usyk winning! As a Joshua fan I had been starting to get very nervous.

Do you seriously think Team Wilder would entertain the notion of fighting Usyk if they both win? You're a funny guy Bandog.

Why wouldn't he? There is a rematch clause, so that's a year off even if it is an opportunity.

1. Wilder fights PBC fighters almost exclusively. If Fury 1 had been the massacre that Wilder's people had every reason to expect it to be, then by now he would have added the names of Kownacki and Martin to his list of successful defences - next up Helenius?

2.. His team won't let him near Dillian Whyte never mind Anthony Joshua. How are they going to want to put him in with the man who outskilled Joshua, especially when it won't generate anywhere near the revenue of Joshua v Wilder?

3. His team steer him away from quality opposition: Povetkin was a smoke-screen that was never going to happen, Ortiz was a calculated risk when the clamour for Wilder to fight a big name opponent needed dealing with, and Fury 1 was a miscalculation in similar circumstances. The only fights Wilder have had against a top fighter in their prime are Fury 2 and 3 and after the result of the previous fight Wilder's management probably felt a rematch was going to be tough to avoid.

I could probably go on but that'll do to be going on with. I appreciate it's difficult with the blinkers on but the strategy is there for all to see.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Stats and Stakes

Anthony Joshua

Age: 31
Current Titles: IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight (2019-Present, 1 Defense)
Previous Titles: IBF heavyweight (2016-19, 6 Defenses); WBA heavyweight (2017-19, 3 Defenses); WBO heavyweight (2018-19, 1 Defense)
Height: 6’6
Weight: 240 lbs.
Stance: Orthodox
Hails from: Watford, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
Record: 24-1, 22 KO, 1 KOBY

Press Rankings: #1 (TBRB, Ring, BoxRec), #2 (ESPN)

Record in Major Title Fights: 9-1, 7 KO, 1 KOBY

Last Five Opponents: 151-4 (.974)

Notable Outcomes, TBRB and/or Ring Rated Foes: Charles Martin KO2; Dominic Breazeale TKO7; Wladimir Klitschko TKO11; Carlos Takam TKO10; Joseph Parker UD12; Alexander Povetkin TKO7; Andy Ruiz TKO by 7, UD12; Kubrat Pulev KO9

Additional Current/Former Titlists Faced: None

vs.

Oleksandr Usyk

Age: 34
Title: None
Previous Titles: WBO Cruiserweight (2016-19, 6 Defenses); WBC Cruiserweight (2018-19, 2 Defenses); Lineal/TBRB/Ring/WBA/IBF Cruiserweight (2018-19, 1 Defense)
Height: 6’3
Weight: 221 ¼ lbs.
Stance: Southpaw
Hails from: Shypyntsi, Ukraine
Record: 18-0, 13 KO (24-0, 15 KO including World Series of Boxing fights)

Press Rankings: #3 (BoxRec), #4 (ESPN), #10 (TBRB, Ring)

Record in Title Fights: 7-0, 3 KO

Last Five Opponents: 149-14-1 (.912)

Notable Outcomes, TBRB and/or Ring Rated Foes: Krzysztof Glowacki UD12; Marco Huck TKO10; Mairis Briedis MD12; Murat Gassiev UD12

Additional Current/Former Titlists Faced: Tony Bellew TKO8

[aicheligad]

Stats and Stakes

Anthony Joshua

Age: 31
Current Titles: IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight (2019-Present, 1 Defense)
Previous Titles: IBF heavyweight (2016-19, 6 Defenses); WBA heavyweight (2017-19, 3 Defenses); WBO heavyweight (2018-19, 1 Defense)
Height: 6’6
Weight: 240 lbs.
Stance: Orthodox
Hails from: Watford, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
Record: 24-1, 22 KO, 1 KOBY

Press Rankings: #1 (TBRB, Ring, BoxRec), #2 (ESPN)

Record in Major Title Fights: 9-1, 7 KO, 1 KOBY

Last Five Opponents: 151-4 (.974)

Notable Outcomes, TBRB and/or Ring Rated Foes: Charles Martin KO2; Dominic Breazeale TKO7; Wladimir Klitschko TKO11; Carlos Takam TKO10; Joseph Parker UD12; Alexander Povetkin TKO7; Andy Ruiz TKO by 7, UD12; Kubrat Pulev KO9

Additional Current/Former Titlists Faced: None

vs.

Oleksandr Usyk

Age: 34
Title: None
Previous Titles: WBO Cruiserweight (2016-19, 6 Defenses); WBC Cruiserweight (2018-19, 2 Defenses); Lineal/TBRB/Ring/WBA/IBF Cruiserweight (2018-19, 1 Defense)
Height: 6’3
Weight: 221 ¼ lbs.
Stance: Southpaw
Hails from: Shypyntsi, Ukraine
Record: 18-0, 13 KO (24-0, 15 KO including World Series of Boxing fights)

Press Rankings: #3 (BoxRec), #4 (ESPN), #10 (TBRB, Ring)

Record in Title Fights: 7-0, 3 KO

Last Five Opponents: 149-14-1 (.912)

Notable Outcomes, TBRB and/or Ring Rated Foes: Krzysztof Glowacki UD12; Marco Huck TKO10; Mairis Briedis MD12; Murat Gassiev UD12

Additional Current/Former Titlists Faced: Tony Bellew TKO8

Fun fact, Usyk wasn't born in Shypyntsi (near Chernivtsi, in northern Bukovina, close to Romanian border), it's a totally different place than Simferopol, Crimea, but BoxRec changed it (I guess it was alphabetically closest option), because
otherwise Usyk would have a Russian flag next to his place of birth, because in BoxRec's system, Crimea is attached to Russia and Russian flag. Previously, Usyk just had ''Ukraine'' as his place of birth without mentioning a specific city, then they decided to put a random location in this country for some reason.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

premieres in 10 mins

[Thomastearns]

Good interview questions.

Imagine Loma selling you ice cream?

Neverthless, when he says it's 50/50 I'll take that as 60/40 for Joshua.

Or is that wishful thinking?

So difficult to call this.

AJ is clearly better than both Bellew and Chisora, though Chisora might have a better chin.

On the other hand, Usyk is way better than the static Andy Ruiz, even with less power.

Ajs power, reach and height advantages must count for something as well as Usyk never having fought anyone like Joshua.

Just how much truth is there in those stories of Usyk sparring with the Klitchko's?

[Bandog]

I sense a lack of confidence in AJ, saying he's going for the KO since the fight will come down to conditioning?

Is he listening too much to predictions from guys like Fury? We'll see how much dog he has in him if it goes late.

[lazboy]

I’m really torn on this fight. My feeling is Usyk will come on too late. On the other hand, he’s a special fighter and was punch perfect when he needed to be against Gassiev.

Much respect respect to AJ for taking this fight. Looking forward to it.

[Bandog]

I’m really torn on this fight. My feeling is Usyk will come on too late. On the other hand, he’s a special fighter and was punch perfect when he needed to agaisnt Gassiev. Much respect respect to AJ for taking this fight. Looking forward to it.

Me too. Not much has been said about Usyk being a southpaw. I think it will be a good fight. Aj early or Usyk late. KO/TKO

[Ruthless-RKO]

[aicheligad]

I’m really torn on this fight. My feeling is Usyk will come on too late. On the other hand, he’s a special fighter and was punch perfect when he needed to agaisnt Gassiev. Much respect respect to AJ for taking this fight. Looking forward to it.

Me too. Not much has been said about Usyk being a southpaw. I think it will be a good fight. Aj early or Usyk late. KO/TKO

Right, the only southpaw Joshua fought was Charles Martin, but in fact it doesn't even count. So he has zero experience vs southpaws.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Live from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, UK.
Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing Presents: The Perfect Storm

Time: 5:00pm (UK time)
TV/Live stream: Facebook/Youtube
Time: 6pm (UK time)
TV/Live stream: Sky Sports Box Office | Price: £24.95
Time: 1pm ET | 10am PT
TV/Live stream: DAZN | Price: $19.99/Month, $99.99/Year

Running Order

*Fight card subject to change.

Live on Facebook| Youtube: 5pm

Vacant WBA Inter-Continental Middleweight Championship
Chris Ousley vs. Khasan Baysangurov

Live on Sky Sports Box Office | DAZN: 6pm UK | 1pm ET | 10am PT

IBF International Welterweight Championship
Maxim Prodan vs. Florian Marku

Followed by

10 Round Light-Heavyweight Contest
Callum Smith vs. Lenin Castillo

Followed by

6 Round Lightweight Contest
Campbell Hatton vs. Izan Dura

Followed by

WBO World Cruiserweight Championship
Lawrence Okolie vs. Dilan Prasovic

Followed by

Unified WBA, WBO, IBF & IBO World Heavyweight Championship
Anthony Joshua vs. Oleksandr Usyk

[Ruthless-RKO]

[SportsRatings]

I think this is going to be a hard fight to score, and go to a decision that Joshua will win, but many will continue to argue that Usyk should have won.

[victor-romeo]

prodan vs marku marku wins judges make it closer that it was..

[victor-romeo]

Roy Jones doing commentary on DAZN

[JxhDel.]

That 99 - 91 scorecard of Marku Prodan, jeez...

Man, Callum looked like a renovated version of himself, monstrous KO.

[JxhDel.]

Now a perfect break for a snack and a piss!

[Thomastearns]

I think this is going to be a hard fight to score, and go to a decision that Joshua will win, but many will continue to argue that Usyk should have won.

Me too.

For Usyk to win, he needs to win big. His camp must know that is the deal here. They seemed happy enough beforehand and repeatedly thanked AJ for giving them this fight.

As we all do.

I'm also expecting AJ to be well ahead going into the second half. His stamina/recovery is also far better than some give him credit for.

Would have been nice if Fury and Wilder were in attendance tonight, but they might have other more pressing concerns.