Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk | PPV - 18 May 2024

[TheLeprechaun]

Someone that never really got mentioned was Ngannou did really well for a 19 stone heavyweight. Back in the 90’s it really seemed like pushing your weight over 18 stone was a bad thing in boxing. I remember Lennox coming in just over 18 in his final fight and he looked relatively sluggish and out of form, but also of course Vitali was quite good too. Bowe was never as good as soon as his weight crept over 17 stone post-Holyfield 1. I suppose Fury looked useful in Wilder 2. But Ngannou actually carried the muscle and seemed to be able to do the rounds. That’s impressive! Hopefully the thread on Fury’s weight will return. Post-Christmas I went for 280 pounds/20 stone.

After Eddie Futch had enough of Bowe after the Golota 1 camp, and called him a "lost cause", Bowe actually knuckled down for the rematch and took off the weight, coming in at around 16 and a half. He took a shellacking in the fight and looked weakened but his heart enabled him to stay in there and periodically take it to Golota who folded again and fouled his way out when Bowe rallied a bit. In that first Holyfield fight Bowe looks exceptional. Just really really really good. He has all the tools, fine jab when he wants to operate on the outside and really high level inside fighting skills - every angle covered and winning almost every exchange until Holyfield gets well and truly starched and we know how good Holyfield was. He didn't have a prayer in the fight. It is one of the most impressive heavyweight performances for me. Very hard to pick against Bowe on that night against the other great heavyweights. I really like that fight because it's an example of a lifetime of work leading to a fighter peaking on his most important night.

[polecateddy]

Someone that never really got mentioned was Ngannou did really well for a 19 stone heavyweight. Back in the 90’s it really seemed like pushing your weight over 18 stone was a bad thing in boxing. I remember Lennox coming in just over 18 in his final fight and he looked relatively sluggish and out of form, but also of course Vitali was quite good too. Bowe was never as good as soon as his weight crept over 17 stone post-Holyfield 1. I suppose Fury looked useful in Wilder 2. But Ngannou actually carried the muscle and seemed to be able to do the rounds. That’s impressive! Hopefully the thread on Fury’s weight will return. Post-Christmas I went for 280 pounds/20 stone.

After Eddie Futch had enough of Bowe after the Golota 1 camp, and called him a "lost cause", Bowe actually knuckled down for the rematch and took off the weight, coming in at around 16 and a half. He took a shellacking in the fight and looked weakened but his heart enabled him to stay in there and periodically take it to Golota who folded again and fouled his way out when Bowe rallied a bit. In that first Holyfield fight Bowe looks exceptional. Just really really really good. He has all the tools, fine jab when he wants to operate on the outside and really high level inside fighting skills - every angle covered and winning almost every exchange until Holyfield gets well and truly starched and we know how good Holyfield was. He didn't have a prayer in the fight. It is one of the most impressive heavyweight performances for me. Very hard to pick against Bowe on that night against the other great heavyweights. I really like that fight because it's an example of a lifetime of work leading to a fighter peaking on his most important night.

I generally think that Bowe would have beaten the pre-Stewart version of Lennox Lewis. That they didn’t fight is a much more significant loss to heavyweight history than Fury and Joshua not fighting each other.

[The Gratest]

I think the difference between a heavy Lewis compared to a heavy Bowe is perhaps Lewis adjusting his training and weight to suit an opponent ie what ended up being his last fight was meant to be against Kirk Johnson, a relatively average sized heavyweight who he may well have sought to bully. However, Johnson's injury with just 2 weeks to go resulted in a heavier and slower Lewis slugging it out with the larger Vitali. (Granted he didn't appear to be fully focused and at his best weight for Rahman though).

Bowe's weight fluctuations appeared to be down to him ballooning between fights and then not putting in the effort in training to get to his optimum fighting weight. He cut corners and it began to show.

I agree with that Holyfield 1 version of Bowe, he had it all in that fight. A jab that stopped Holyfield in his tracks and offset his bouncy rhythm, combo punching from the outside and, for such a big man, an awesome inside fighter, especially with the uppercut. Also something that had been questioned up until then, a fighting heart.
Despite the losing effort, that fight really made Holyfield as well, what a tough bastard he was.

Ngannou carries the weight well due to being very muscular. He's heavy because of training rather than lack of, if that makes sense? Whether those muscles can fight at a steady pace, I don't know. Whether he'll be forced to fight at a steady pace, or, will face the more hesitant version of Joshua, I don't know either.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Someone that never really got mentioned was Ngannou did really well for a 19 stone heavyweight. Back in the 90’s it really seemed like pushing your weight over 18 stone was a bad thing in boxing. I remember Lennox coming in just over 18 in his final fight and he looked relatively sluggish and out of form, but also of course Vitali was quite good too. Bowe was never as good as soon as his weight crept over 17 stone post-Holyfield 1. I suppose Fury looked useful in Wilder 2. But Ngannou actually carried the muscle and seemed to be able to do the rounds. That’s impressive! Hopefully the thread on Fury’s weight will return. Post-Christmas I went for 280 pounds/20 stone.

After Eddie Futch had enough of Bowe after the Golota 1 camp, and called him a "lost cause", Bowe actually knuckled down for the rematch and took off the weight, coming in at around 16 and a half. He took a shellacking in the fight and looked weakened but his heart enabled him to stay in there and periodically take it to Golota who folded again and fouled his way out when Bowe rallied a bit. In that first Holyfield fight Bowe looks exceptional. Just really really really good. He has all the tools, fine jab when he wants to operate on the outside and really high level inside fighting skills - every angle covered and winning almost every exchange until Holyfield gets well and truly starched and we know how good Holyfield was. He didn't have a prayer in the fight. It is one of the most impressive heavyweight performances for me. Very hard to pick against Bowe on that night against the other great heavyweights. I really like that fight because it's an example of a lifetime of work leading to a fighter peaking on his most important night.

I generally think that Bowe would have beaten the pre-Stewart version of Lennox Lewis. That they didn’t fight is a much more significant loss to heavyweight history than Fury and Joshua not fighting each other.

I agree, and have always thought so. Bowe was a very complete fighter at that stage, and had all the physical tool to boot, whilst Lewis still had some bad habíts.

Bowe would have exposed them.

[tonyevs]

Its all kicking off in middle east now.

I think its probably the most likely cause of this fight being cancelled/postponed right now.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Jai Opetaia To Land on Feb. 17 Fury-Usyk Undercard; Will Train With Fury Ahead Of Championship Defense

The sport’s reigning lineal heavyweight and cruiserweight champions will not only share a card but a training camp as well.

BS.com has confirmed that Jai Opetaia will next appear on the undercard of the February 17 Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk heavyweight championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

A challenger was not immediately identified as this goes to publication. Boxing Scene has learned, however, that Opetaia will head to Fury’s training camp this weekend to spar with the sport’s reigning heavyweight king leading up to their separate championship title defenses.

The placement marks a quick turnaround for Sydney’s Opetaia (24-0, 19KOs), who will attempt the third defense of the true cruiserweight championship.

This bout comes less than two months after his December 23 first-round knockout of England’s Ellis Zorro (17-1, 7KOs) on the ‘Day Of Reckoning’ undercard also in Riyadh. All three title defenses will now come within a span of less than five months after having sat out much of 2023 while recovering from shoulder surgery.

Opetaia made headlines leading up to the Zorro fight, mainly surrounding the circumstances which forced him to relinquish the IBF cruiserweight title.

He was previously ordered to face Latvia’s Mairis Briedis, whom he outpointed over twelve furious rounds in July 2022 to dethrone the three-time cruiserweight champ. The two sides could not reach a deal for what would have been a rematch, which prompted the IBF to order a purse bid.

However, Opetaia already committed to fighting on the Day of Reckoning show, to which Briedis did not object on the condition he still get his mandatory title shot within the deadline period. The IBF nixed the idea, given that Opetaia already used up a voluntary exception when he faced and defeated England’s Jordan Thompson last September.

Ironically, the February 17 date will mark Opetaia’s third fight since Briedis last appeared in the ring in their July 2022 thriller. Briedis is next due to face Mexico’s Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez for the vacant title. The date is pending the outcome of a scheduled January 16 purse bid hearing.

A favorable amount of sympathy was granted to the unbeaten 28-year-old—who represented Australia as a teenager in the 2012 London Olympics—who retained his standing as the recognized cruiserweight champion.

An added layer should come from his time that will be spent in the presence of England’s Fury (34-0-1, 24KOs), who faces Ukraine’s Usyk (21-0, 14KOs) in a bid to crown the sport’s first undisputed heavyweight champion in 25 years. Fury gets something out of it as well in a 6'2" southpaw sparring partner who roughly matches Usyk's physical dimensions.

Fury survived a major scare but couldn’t avoid negative press as his far too competitive and razor-thin victory over Francis Ngannou, a former UFC heavyweight champion who made his pro boxing debut. Their October 28 bout did not come with Fury’s WBC title on the line, but he nearly suffered his first defeat as he was dropped in the third round. Fury rallied to escape with a ten-round, split decision victory.

It was theorized that his preparation for that bout miserably paled in comparison to the work put in for past camps. Fury regained his place atop the heavyweight division with a February 2020 lineal/WBC championship-winning stoppage over Deontay Wilder. Three title defenses have followed, all inside the distance.

[jwfg]

Its all kicking off in middle east now.

I think its probably the most likely cause of this fight being cancelled/postponed right now.

I'm out of the loop, what's happening?

[jamesmcdonnell]

Its all kicking off in middle east now.

I think its probably the most likely cause of this fight being cancelled/postponed right now.

KSA itself is still a safe zone, Huthis can't do shite.

[tonyevs]

Its all kicking off in middle east now.

I think its probably the most likely cause of this fight being cancelled/postponed right now.

KSA itself is still a safe zone, Huthis can't do shite.

The Houthis`s are nothing - but their backers are a tad more capable.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Irán aren't going to attack.the saudis

[omalley]

Its all kicking off in middle east now.
I think its probably the most likely cause of this fight being cancelled/postponed right now.

The Saudis themselves will not cancel/postpone the event.

[BigDoofus]

Its all kicking off in middle east now.

I think its probably the most likely cause of this fight being cancelled/postponed right now.

The Knitting Circle are getting increasingly desperate.
What does Shawn Porter think of the Houthis’ missile capabilities?

[tonyevs]

Irán aren't going to attack.the saudis

The risk is as we're seeing it now escalating wider. Iran and Saudi on opposite sides in Yemen and main players in the regional Sunni/Shia conflict. The Houthis aren't the only loons on Iran's delivery list.

[tonyevs]

Its all kicking off in middle east now.

I think its probably the most likely cause of this fight being cancelled/postponed right now.

The Knitting Circle are getting increasingly desperate.
What does Shawn Porter think of the Houthis’ missile capabilities?

C'mon John I know your desperate to rip your vest off and wobble those ample breasts of yours for the boys .. but grown ups are talking at the moment

[The Gratest]

Big Doofy John accusing others of being desperate after he's spent the week telling porky pies

[SeanBrennan]

do you think the fight is at risk due to regional tensions? Clearly more important than a fight but I hope it does happen, as I've no idea what type of Fury will show up.

[si7dog7]

Its all kicking off in middle east now.

I think its probably the most likely cause of this fight being cancelled/postponed right now.

The Knitting Circle are getting increasingly desperate.
What does Shawn Porter think of the Houthis’ missile capabilities?

What the hell are you on about you deluded, DELUD
DELUSIONAL bell end.
Reign yourself in ffs. Its beyond embarrassing!

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

After Eddie Futch had enough of Bowe after the Golota 1 camp, and called him a "lost cause", Bowe actually knuckled down for the rematch and took off the weight, coming in at around 16 and a half. He took a shellacking in the fight and looked weakened but his heart enabled him to stay in there and periodically take it to Golota who folded again and fouled his way out when Bowe rallied a bit. In that first Holyfield fight Bowe looks exceptional. Just really really really good. He has all the tools, fine jab when he wants to operate on the outside and really high level inside fighting skills - every angle covered and winning almost every exchange until Holyfield gets well and truly starched and we know how good Holyfield was. He didn't have a prayer in the fight. It is one of the most impressive heavyweight performances for me. Very hard to pick against Bowe on that night against the other great heavyweights. I really like that fight because it's an example of a lifetime of work leading to a fighter peaking on his most important night.

I generally think that Bowe would have beaten the pre-Stewart version of Lennox Lewis. That they didn’t fight is a much more significant loss to heavyweight history than Fury and Joshua not fighting each other.

I agree, and have always thought so. Bowe was a very complete fighter at that stage, and had all the physical tool to boot, whilst Lewis still had some bad habíts.

Bowe would have exposed them.

The thing is Eddie Futch told Emmanual Steward he thought Lewis would walk through Bowe. And Lennox did actually walk through Bowe in the amateurs. And he did walk through Golota in a round a few months after Golota had retired Bowe.

Bowe matched up well against Holyfield who liked to fight inside. He arguably lost against Tubbs when a past prime Tubbs boxed him. He lost to Holyfield when Holyfield boxed instead of slugged. And he lost to Golota simply because Golota simply jabbed him in the face. Okay he didn't technically lose, but he did to the fans

And you think Bowe with those limitations is beating Lenny the Lion, nah, not having it

[The Gratest]

do you think the fight is at risk due to regional tensions?

There's already a thread about what Fury's weight will be mate.

[margaret thatcher]

I generally think that Bowe would have beaten the pre-Stewart version of Lennox Lewis. That they didn’t fight is a much more significant loss to heavyweight history than Fury and Joshua not fighting each other.

I agree, and have always thought so. Bowe was a very complete fighter at that stage, and had all the physical tool to boot, whilst Lewis still had some bad habíts.

Bowe would have exposed them.

The thing is Eddie Futch told Emmanual Steward he thought Lewis would walk through Bowe. And Lennox did actually walk through Bowe in the amateurs. And he did walk through Golota in a round a few months after Golota had retired Bowe.

Bowe matched up well against Holyfield who liked to fight inside. He arguably lost against Tubbs when a past prime Tubbs boxed him. He lost to Holyfield when Holyfield boxed instead of slugged. And he lost to Golota simply because Golota simply jabbed him in the face. Okay he didn't technically lose, but he did to the fans

And you think Bowe with those limitations is beating Lenny the Lion, nah, not having it

len got the win over bow in the ams but he certainly didnt walk through him, he was getting it put on him and getting well beat until turning the fight with a big shot in the 2nd. and it's not like bowe was levelled, it was one of those that would never come close to being a stoppage in the pros, and bowe was known for his recovery as a pro

not saying it wasnt a legit win, because they are very cautious in am boxing, but hardly len walking over him and showing that it woulda happened in the early 90s too

[The Gratest]

There were doubts about Bowe's mental strength/fighting heart after the Olympics. The Lewis defeat and I can remember reading that Ray Mercer had to room with him during the games but moved to another room because of Bowe's constant moaning (not moaning as in noises, but moaning as in complaining) and the amount of negative self doubt he had.
It all kinda built up an image of a talented fighter but one who might not have the heart to get to the top.

The magazines at the time had articles of 5 young heavyweights to watch:

Lewis
Bowe
Mercer
Morrison
Seldon

[si7dog7]

I generally think that Bowe would have beaten the pre-Stewart version of Lennox Lewis. That they didn’t fight is a much more significant loss to heavyweight history than Fury and Joshua not fighting each other.

I agree, and have always thought so. Bowe was a very complete fighter at that stage, and had all the physical tool to boot, whilst Lewis still had some bad habíts.

Bowe would have exposed them.

The thing is Eddie Futch told Emmanual Steward he thought Lewis would walk through Bowe. And Lennox did actually walk through Bowe in the amateurs. And he did walk through Golota in a round a few months after Golota had retired Bowe.

Bowe matched up well against Holyfield who liked to fight inside. He arguably lost against Tubbs when a past prime Tubbs boxed him. He lost to Holyfield when Holyfield boxed instead of slugged. And he lost to Golota simply because Golota simply jabbed him in the face. Okay he didn't technically lose, but he did to the fans

And you think Bowe with those limitations is beating Lenny the Lion, nah, not having it

Great Post

[jwfg]

Its all kicking off in middle east now.

I think its probably the most likely cause of this fight being cancelled/postponed right now.

The Knitting Circle are getting increasingly desperate.
What does Shawn Porter think of the Houthis’ missile capabilities?

Why did you name your son after a rapist?

[polecateddy]

I generally think that Bowe would have beaten the pre-Stewart version of Lennox Lewis. That they didn’t fight is a much more significant loss to heavyweight history than Fury and Joshua not fighting each other.

I agree, and have always thought so. Bowe was a very complete fighter at that stage, and had all the physical tool to boot, whilst Lewis still had some bad habíts.

Bowe would have exposed them.

The thing is Eddie Futch told Emmanual Steward he thought Lewis would walk through Bowe. And Lennox did actually walk through Bowe in the amateurs. And he did walk through Golota in a round a few months after Golota had retired Bowe.

Bowe matched up well against Holyfield who liked to fight inside. He arguably lost against Tubbs when a past prime Tubbs boxed him. He lost to Holyfield when Holyfield boxed instead of slugged. And he lost to Golota simply because Golota simply jabbed him in the face. Okay he didn't technically lose, but he did to the fans

And you think Bowe with those limitations is beating Lenny the Lion, nah, not having it

Yeah but I said pre-Stewart Lewis, not peak Lewis. Bowe had the edge in that early period because there were flaws in Lewis’ game and he had a poor trainer.

[CaptainSpacerod]

Its all kicking off in middle east now.

I think its probably the most likely cause of this fight being cancelled/postponed right now.

KSA itself is still a safe zone, Huthis can't do shite.

I read that as KSI and thought Huthis must be some other youtuber

I was half way through googling Huthis when i realised what was going on