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Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Deontay Wilder - Who wins?
Posted: 31 Dec 2025, 09:06
by mickey1975
It's an obvious fight for him, the third best heavyweight of his era on his record.
Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Deontay Wilder - Who wins?
Posted: 31 Dec 2025, 09:09
by Ruthless-RKO
mickey1975 wrote: ↑31 Dec 2025, 09:06
It's an obvious fight for him, the third best heavyweight of his era on his record.
Would be on the same level as Lewis having Tyson on his record. Just a name
Imagine having wins over Joshua x2, Fury x2 and Wilder on ur record..
Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Deontay Wilder - Who wins?
Posted: 31 Dec 2025, 10:24
by gp.
Coco wrote: ↑02 Dec 2025, 08:11
mickey1975 wrote: ↑02 Dec 2025, 07:57
Coco wrote: ↑02 Dec 2025, 06:24
He will take the fight that pays most
So it's not classed as ducking if he does what suits him best?
Ducking is when you don't fight a fella because you think you will lose.
Picking the best money against one from a bunch of fighters who aren't on your level ain't ducking.
He may well end up fighting Itauma, who is probably the most risky out there, depends on what Turki wants
Actually I'd say ducking is when you won't fight a fella because you think you will lose
and the money on offer is good.
If you think you will lose against someone
and he can't bring any money to the table, fighting him is just plain stupid.
Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Deontay Wilder - Who wins?
Posted: 31 Dec 2025, 14:49
by Nightmare Roy
Wilder is absolutely shot to shit, pointless fight really.
Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Deontay Wilder - Who wins?
Posted: 31 Dec 2025, 15:32
by TBA
I'd prefer Usyk vs Luke Littler.
Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Deontay Wilder - Who wins?
Posted: 01 Jan 2026, 18:05
by Grilling Machine
Wouldn't be surprised if Usyk plays a decent game. His opponent should obviously be Kabayel or Wardley at present. If he overcame both and finished with an unbeaten Itauma, he could potentially have a win over the next world champ rather than a question mark. Lewis nailed his retirement in hindsight.
Wilder makes sense for a climber like Itauma, Torrez or Atang. Nobody established needs him.
Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Deontay Wilder - Who wins?
Posted: 01 Jan 2026, 20:04
by Frostieballs
mickey1975 wrote: ↑31 Dec 2025, 09:06
It's an obvious fight for him, the third best heavyweight of his era on his record.
Third best? Wilder better than Joshua?
Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Deontay Wilder - Who wins?
Posted: 01 Jan 2026, 20:14
by gilgamesh
Frostieballs wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026, 20:04
mickey1975 wrote: ↑31 Dec 2025, 09:06
It's an obvious fight for him, the third best heavyweight of his era on his record.
Third best? Wilder better than Joshua?
Wilder rates ahead of Joshua to me, but barely. He could surpass him with a few more significant wins or if Wilder took a few more damaging losses.
Preferably they fight each other, and settle it that way. I'd still love to see AJ vs Fury and Wilder. Regardless of if he beats either one of them.
Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Deontay Wilder - Who wins?
Posted: 02 Jan 2026, 04:57
by joshj909
gilgamesh wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026, 20:14
Frostieballs wrote: ↑01 Jan 2026, 20:04
mickey1975 wrote: ↑31 Dec 2025, 09:06
It's an obvious fight for him, the third best heavyweight of his era on his record.
Third best? Wilder better than Joshua?
Wilder rates ahead of Joshua to me, but barely. He could surpass him with a few more significant wins or if Wilder took a few more damaging losses.
Preferably they fight each other, and settle it that way. I'd still love to see AJ vs Fury and Wilder. Regardless of if he beats either one of them.
How did you get to that conclusion?
Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Deontay Wilder - Who wins?
Posted: 02 Jan 2026, 05:21
by mickey1975
Wilder had a much bigger impact on boxing. Las Vegas, Barclays Centre, Staples Centre... he was the last great American heavyweight and his fights were must see TV.
Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Deontay Wilder - Who wins?
Posted: 02 Jan 2026, 05:30
by joshj909
mickey1975 wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026, 05:21
Wilder had a much bigger impact on boxing. Las Vegas, Barclays Centre, Staples Centre... he was the last great American heavyweight and his fights were must see TV.
Against bum of the month. Didn't unify any belts. Maybe has one top 15 win. Losses against four opponents, three of which that aren't top of the pile. Definitely didn't have a bigger impact on boxing as he was making less money than Joshua who carried boxing in the UK for a few years.
Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Deontay Wilder - Who wins?
Posted: 02 Jan 2026, 06:38
by mickey1975
joshj909 wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026, 05:30
mickey1975 wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026, 05:21
Wilder had a much bigger impact on boxing. Las Vegas, Barclays Centre, Staples Centre... he was the last great American heavyweight and his fights were must see TV.
Against bum of the month. Didn't unify any belts. Maybe has one top 15 win. Losses against four opponents, three of which that aren't top of the pile. Definitely didn't have a bigger impact on boxing as he was making less money than Joshua who carried boxing in the UK for a few years.
That's just a myth Hearn started. His first stadium fight was on the undercard of a sold out Wembley... As you said yourself, he was huge in the UK. We're a small island compared to America. AJ had to go fight Jake Paul to get any recognition there! I think that sums up his US exploits.
Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Deontay Wilder - Who wins?
Posted: 02 Jan 2026, 07:01
by joshj909
mickey1975 wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026, 06:38
joshj909 wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026, 05:30
mickey1975 wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026, 05:21
Wilder had a much bigger impact on boxing. Las Vegas, Barclays Centre, Staples Centre... he was the last great American heavyweight and his fights were must see TV.
Against bum of the month. Didn't unify any belts. Maybe has one top 15 win. Losses against four opponents, three of which that aren't top of the pile. Definitely didn't have a bigger impact on boxing as he was making less money than Joshua who carried boxing in the UK for a few years.
That's just a myth Hearn started. His first stadium fight was on the undercard of a sold out Wembley... As you said yourself, he was huge in the UK. We're a small island compared to America. AJ had to go fight Jake Paul to get any recognition there! I think that sums up his US exploits.
Joshua wade £10m headlining Takam, which was one of his lowest earning defences and making several times that in many other fights against opponents that aren't necessarily huge names. That's in the small island of Britain. Wilder, with the huge possible fanbase in the US, reportedly only topped that in Fury 2 and 3. Joshua out earned Wilder's earning in those fights in other fights.
To use the same metric you have of Joshua not being a star in the US. Wilder has only fought outside the US with only one of those events as a headliner. Joshua reportedly had 19,000 watching him headline and make £18m Vs Ruiz. Wilder reportedly made £3m from the Saudi's headlining against Zhang abroad. Who's the bigger star inside their country and who's the bigger star outside their country? Wilder is not a star anywhere, while Joshua was one of the biggest sporting star's in the UK (bigger than Fury too).
Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Deontay Wilder - Who wins?
Posted: 02 Jan 2026, 07:20
by Ruthless-RKO
AJ appealed to the casual fans way more than Fury did as well.
Sky did a a very good job on that.
Fury didn’t help himself with that after he failed to rematch Wlad and vacated his belts.
He literally gave Joshua the platform he had for 3 years as the main man in the UK.
Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Deontay Wilder - Who wins?
Posted: 02 Jan 2026, 07:22
by SeanBrennan
I think we can all forgive Usyk taking an easier fight, he’s definitely earned it and I’ll watch in the hope Wilder has enough to make it interesting for a bit although I have my doubts.
Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Deontay Wilder - Who wins?
Posted: 02 Jan 2026, 07:59
by mickey1975
joshj909 wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026, 07:01
mickey1975 wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026, 06:38
joshj909 wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026, 05:30
Against bum of the month. Didn't unify any belts. Maybe has one top 15 win. Losses against four opponents, three of which that aren't top of the pile. Definitely didn't have a bigger impact on boxing as he was making less money than Joshua who carried boxing in the UK for a few years.
That's just a myth Hearn started. His first stadium fight was on the undercard of a sold out Wembley... As you said yourself, he was huge in the UK. We're a small island compared to America. AJ had to go fight Jake Paul to get any recognition there! I think that sums up his US exploits.
Joshua wade £10m headlining Takam, which was one of his lowest earning defences and making several times that in many other fights against opponents that aren't necessarily huge names. That's in the small island of Britain. Wilder, with the huge possible fanbase in the US, reportedly only topped that in Fury 2 and 3. Joshua out earned Wilder's earning in those fights in other fights.
To use the same metric you have of Joshua not being a star in the US. Wilder has only fought outside the US with only one of those events as a headliner. Joshua reportedly had 19,000 watching him headline and make £18m Vs Ruiz. Wilder reportedly made £3m from the Saudi's headlining against Zhang abroad. Who's the bigger star inside their country and who's the bigger star outside their country? Wilder is not a star anywhere, while Joshua was one of the biggest sporting star's in the UK (bigger than Fury too).
And? Do you consider Conor Benn a higher achiever in boxing than Duke McKenzie? As Conor screamed at him he had earned so much more, he must be? Anyone who knows Eddie Hearn didn't invent boxing would completely disagree with this, of course.
Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Deontay Wilder - Who wins?
Posted: 02 Jan 2026, 08:07
by Ruthless-RKO
Wilder was bigger in US
AJ was bigger in UK
AJ was bigger globally.
Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Deontay Wilder - Who wins?
Posted: 02 Jan 2026, 08:09
by mickey1975
Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026, 08:07
Wilder was bigger in US
AJ was bigger in UK
AJ was bigger globally.
Where? George Groves and Callum Smith opened the door for him first time round in Saudi and Fury and Spencer Brown the second.
Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Deontay Wilder - Who wins?
Posted: 02 Jan 2026, 08:28
by Ruthless-RKO
mickey1975 wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026, 08:09
Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026, 08:07
Wilder was bigger in US
AJ was bigger in UK
AJ was bigger globally.
Where? George Groves and Callum Smith opened the door for him first time round in Saudi and Fury and Spencer Brown the second.
commercially he was still worth way more in Saudi than Groves and Smith.
Anyone can open doors.
WBSS needed Saudi in order to pay the prize money.
Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Deontay Wilder - Who wins?
Posted: 02 Jan 2026, 08:30
by mickey1975
Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026, 08:28
mickey1975 wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026, 08:09
Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026, 08:07
Wilder was bigger in US
AJ was bigger in UK
AJ was bigger globally.
Where? George Groves and Callum Smith opened the door for him first time round in Saudi and Fury and Spencer Brown the second.
commercially he was still worth way more in Saudi than Groves and Smith.
Anyone can open doors.
WBSS needed Saudi in order to pay the prize money.
I never saw any AJ advertisements when I was there. There's a Mike Tyson gym.
Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Deontay Wilder - Who wins?
Posted: 02 Jan 2026, 08:32
by Ruthless-RKO
mickey1975 wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026, 08:30
I never saw any AJ advertisements when I was there. There's a Mike Tyson gym.
Why would there be?
You went for Usyk-Fury?
Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Deontay Wilder - Who wins?
Posted: 02 Jan 2026, 09:06
by mickey1975
Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026, 08:32
mickey1975 wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026, 08:30
I never saw any AJ advertisements when I was there. There's a Mike Tyson gym.
Why would there be?
You went for Usyk-Fury?
All the big names were there. Loads of them. No AJ.
Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Deontay Wilder - Who wins?
Posted: 02 Jan 2026, 09:48
by Ruthless-RKO
mickey1975 wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026, 09:06
Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026, 08:32
mickey1975 wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026, 08:30
I never saw any AJ advertisements when I was there. There's a Mike Tyson gym.
Why would there be?
You went for Usyk-Fury?
All the big names were there. Loads of them. No AJ.
ok
Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Deontay Wilder - Who wins?
Posted: 02 Jan 2026, 10:10
by joshj909
mickey1975 wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026, 09:06
Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026, 08:32
mickey1975 wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026, 08:30
I never saw any AJ advertisements when I was there. There's a Mike Tyson gym.
Why would there be?
You went for Usyk-Fury?
All the big names were there. Loads of them. No AJ.
Mike Tyson is obviously bigger than them all so that's completely unsurprising. Did you see loads of Wilder advertisements? I'd be surprised if there are Wilder advertisements anywhere but Tuscaloosa.
Re: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Deontay Wilder - Who wins?
Posted: 02 Jan 2026, 10:19
by mickey1975
joshj909 wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026, 10:10
mickey1975 wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026, 09:06
Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026, 08:32
Why would there be?
You went for Usyk-Fury?
All the big names were there. Loads of them. No AJ.
Mike Tyson is obviously bigger than them all so that's completely unsurprising. Did you see loads of Wilder advertisements? I'd be surprised if there are Wilder advertisements anywhere but Tuscaloosa.
I meant anything to indicate he's a big name there, like all his endorsements here, Lynx, Lucozade etc. Ryan Garcia was a pretty big deal.