Oleksandr Usyk v David Benavidez

[Taansend]

Do not take this thread too seriously.

After Benavidez battered Zurdo I said I'd like to see him fight Usyk for the craic.

It would be a fantastic bout & I would have Usyk a big favourite but you know that David would have a right go. He's one of the biggest warriors in the sport right now.

But after Usyks performance last weekend do you give Benavidez a better chance?

Was Rico just the wrong style for Usyk? Or is Usyk just showing the signs of age?

Benavidez has fast feet & really fast hands, Usyk has the best footwork of anyone over 180 since Ali. But has that advantage gone?

So, without getting your knickers in a twist, who wins in this fun matchup?

[gilgamesh]

For the record even if I hadn't seen Rico vs Usyk, I'd pick Benavidez to beat Usyk.

He's young. He's prime. He's fast. He's fresh. He's everything Usyk doesn't want to be fighting right now.

[golden_labrador]

Usyk would pick him off easily

[gilgamesh]

Usyk would pick him off easily

He might. It could be too much for Benavidez right now as he only just arrived at Cruiserweight, but I feel if it was each one of them's next fight now would actually be the optimal time to see it as far as when it would be most competitive, and difficult to pick.

In a few more years the advantage probably swings to Benavidez in a much more obvious way.

[CaptainSpacerod]

For the record even if I hadn't seen Rico vs Usyk, I'd pick Benavidez to beat Usyk.

He's young. He's prime. He's fast. He's fresh. He's everything Usyk doesn't want to be fighting right now.

And juiced to the gills

[881073]

I expect a Usyk by KO, the weight and size difference is just too big and the skill difference not that much.
At most when you ask Usyk to lose 20kg now and then let them fight, then David might have a chance.

It surprises me people still don't seem to realise what kind of an athlete Rico Verhoeven is. Rico's stamina is from a different planet for someone that size. Also it's a pity Rico wasn't allowed to show it, but Rico is one of the rare guys who can get down, and just stand up and continue to fight like nothing happened. He has done it piles of times at high level in kickboxing,
Rico is the kind of guy who can go down 3 or 4 times and still win by KO.

[THEBUTCH]

Ultimately, Verhoeven's stamina failed. He was exhausted when Usyk was applying the finishing touches. Oleksander clearly had more to give.

[joshj909]

If Benavidez thinks he can win a heavyweight belt this year, he would move up and do it. The money is much more significant. If any boxer is not already fighting at heavyweight, it's because they don't think they can win the belt at this current time. More money and no weight cut? Why would they not if they can do it so easily?

[forcefraser]

If Benavidez thinks he can win a heavyweight belt this year, he would move up and do it. The money is much more significant. If any boxer is not already fighting at heavyweight, it's because they don't think they can win the belt at this current time. More money and no weight cut? Why would they not if they can do it so easily?

Davey B ain't no heavyweight. Usyk would murder him

[joshj909]

If Benavidez thinks he can win a heavyweight belt this year, he would move up and do it. The money is much more significant. If any boxer is not already fighting at heavyweight, it's because they don't think they can win the belt at this current time. More money and no weight cut? Why would they not if they can do it so easily?

Davey B ain't no heavyweight. Usyk would murder him

Exactly. Benavidez knows it too, otherwise he'd be at heavyweight.

[golden_labrador]

it would have to be a case of Evan Fields with lats up to his ear lobes to have a prayer

[Bobbyptsd]

If the fight were signed today and they were going to fight in the fall or thereabouts? I'd pick Benavidez on points, but it's not easy, some kind of SD type thing. But a year or more back? I'd pick Usyk on points UD.
I think Benvidez and Usyk are both ATG fighters, but I think two more things: Usyk is on this side of being completely done. And also, at some point size does matter.

[gregregegg]

Usyk a year ago by stoppage.

Usyk right now coin toss for all 4 results… (Usyk stoppage, Usyk points, benividez stoppage, benevidez points).

Usyk in a year I’d have benevidez a slight favorite. (Might change my tune on this if I see Usyk at 220lb again with some movement and activity)

[SeanBrennan]

Usyk a year ago by stoppage.

Usyk right now coin toss for all 4 results… (Usyk stoppage, Usyk points, benividez stoppage, benevidez points).

Usyk in a year I’d have benevidez a slight favorite. (Might change my tune on this if I see Usyk at 220lb again with some movement and activity)

X2

[coneye]

Big fan here of both . But Usyk too big ,

[Taansend]

I would still 100% prefer Usyk v Benavidez than Usyk v Wilder.

Usyk is showing vulnerabilities & David's speed & combinations could cause him problems.

[gregregegg]

I really like this fight... but i dont think i want to see it, because if usyk wins its cause he is bigger.. and if usyk loses its because he is faded...

Id also be scared of people overly hyping benavidez if he were to beat usyk, rather than recognising usyk is past his best....that would anoy me.

Benavidez vs Jai is the fight... Usyk should retire, but wouldent hate wilder or parker.

[gilgamesh]

With Usyk only due to have 1 more fight it's now or never for Benavidez if he think he could get it done. It'd be the chance to become the Lineal Heavyweight Champion, and a gigantic victory.

People will always have a criticism of any victory, but a win over a good fighter is always good on your record and good for your bank account.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Mike Tyson, Roy Jones urge Benavidez to take historic Usyk fight

With a bout against the injured Dmitry Bivol unavailable, light heavyweight titleholder and unified cruiserweight champion David Benavidez appeared headed toward a cruiserweight title unification clash against Noel Mikaelian.

But that's not an option anymore either, as Mikaelian will face Jai Opetaia on September 12, it was announced on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk is zeroing in on Deontay Wilder as his ideal dance partner for his farewell fight, which preferably would take place in the United States.

All-time greats Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. are urging Usyk (25-0, 16 KOs) and Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs) to face each other instead.

Jones originally suggested the idea after Benavidez moved up from light heavyweight to cruiserweight to beat Gilberto Ramirez for the WBA and WBO titles in May, three weeks before Usyk survived a serious scare against kickboxer Rico Verhoeven.

Now, he’s doubling down on the idea.

“I already knew what I saw, I knew what would happen, and I knew what would be best for David Benavidez,” Jones told The Ring. “Now, after Usyk’s performance against Verhoeven, everybody is saying Benavidez should have fought Usyk. He should have fought him anyway. Usyk is a tough fight, and it would be historic for David. Bivol is just as tough, if not tougher, for Benavidez.”

Tyson, who bestowed “The Mexican Monster” nickname on Benavidez and accompanied him to the ring for the Ramirez fight, is also encouraging Benavidez to challenge the Ukrainian.

“Benavidez-Usyk would be beautiful,” Tyson told The Ring. “Benavidez should move to heavyweight. Usyk is not a big heavyweight. He’s a cruiserweight who’s fast and smooth. Usyk has fast hands, just like Benavidez. I think Benavidez throws more punches and combinations than Usyk. I love Benavidez. I will never go against him. ... Usyk is a badass, no doubt about it.”

As for Jones, “Captain Hook” knows all too well about moving up and down the higher weight divisions. Jones was the undisputed king at 175 and a pound-for-pound top player in the sport when he skipped the cruiserweight division altogether to beat John Ruiz for a heavyweight title in 2003. Jones bulked up to 193 pounds for the occasion before moving back down to light heavyweight to resume his career to mixed results.

Jones said Benavidez shouldn’t have similar issues because he won’t have to add and lose as much muscle as he did.

“If I were Benavidez, I would fight Usyk, and come back and campaign and dominate as a cruiserweight,” Jones said. “You don’t want to take all of that weight back off. David is used to carrying the weight.”

Jones then went on to assess Usyk’s performance against Verhoeven, and what that means for Benavidez.

“When you fight someone you’re not supposed to, sometimes your mentality isn’t the same," Jones said. “That was a perfect example between Usyk and Verhoeven. Usyk wasn’t expecting that out of Verhoeven. Usyk does not appear as hungry as he once was, and as focused as he once was, as we saw in his last fight.

“I really think Benavidez gives Usyk an even harder fight than Agit Kabayel, and that’s just me being honest with you. I know Kabayel, but I haven’t seen enough of Kabayel yet to know if he can take it and give it like that to Usyk. I know David can give it and take it.”