BoxRec

i think it's natural to make such a poll

if gass struggles to hurt usyk he may have issues with his work rate not being high enough and his attack bursts being preditcable enough for usyk to outbox/outwork him. the one punch that dorticos did land regularly was the jab and usyk jabs well.

but if he can hurt usyk, maybe lure him into a fight and get usyk front foot aggressive, which tends to make usyk sloppy, he could do it. if usyk does not box tight its very dangerous for him. he has had some sloppy performances where hes too aggressive and liable to being hit. and gassiev can hurt him.

Usyk by UD. But he should box more like he did in Glowacki fight. Since he left James Ali Bashir he has become more aggressive but way more hittable. Briedis hit him with very good shots to the liver 3 or 4 times and Gassiev is better bodypuncher than Briedis.

dagilechia wrote: ↑03 Feb 2018, 19:29 i think it's natural to make such a poll

Naturally, but I don't know how to vote, and I will not vote, definitely. Usyk is a grand-master, Gassiev is a super-strong fighter. Nobody knows.

Usyk is very versatile, and i think he just finds the way to outpoint Gassiev while avoid danger too, but if he wents for a war then it could end up with a surprise, but i dont expect Usyk to fight like this

Gassiev.

Struggling to vote on this one before the competition would have voted Usyk but Gassiev showed so much against Dorticos hope this fight gains the attention it deserves

Usyk wide on points. Gassiev will probably stun him but Usyk has always shown resolve after being hurt. Anyway, both have fought well in the tournament and this has to be the most qualified unification fight in recent history.

If somehow Gassiev manages to make it physical, close the distance, the fight is his for the taking. I can’t see Usyk being able to trouble Murat with anything as he seems to have a serious beard on him. If Usyk’s gameplan is anything like vs Briedis, I can definitely see him getting into trouble as Gassiev has more power and more tools in his toolbox. Theoretically/on paper 55:45 fight with Usyk slight favourite but my vote goes to the young wolf

i rate these guys collectively over mormeck and bell , and all the unifications that came after that. not totally sure on who unified previously.

TempleSlave wrote: ↑03 Feb 2018, 20:33 If somehow Gassiev manages to make it physical, close the distance, the fight is his for the taking. I can’t see Usyk being able to trouble Murat with anything as he seems to have a serious beard on him. If Usyk’s gameplan is anything like vs Briedis, I can definitely see him getting into trouble as Gassiev has more power and more tools in his toolbox. Theoretically/on paper 55:45 fight with Usyk slight favourite but my vote goes to the young wolf

No, not at all. Briedis is a more complete boxer than Gassiev, and the power display doesn't seem to be all the much of a difference for either fighter. I think this will be easier for Usyk than Briedis was.

id say briedis is a bit more complex and less predictable than gassiev, but not quite the explosive tank that gassiev is. im not sure whose better. i think if usyk beats gassiev more clearly it may be just as much styles, and not necessarily briedis being better than gass.

although for now i have gassiev 2 and briedis 3

Usyk by close decision.

Honestly, I wasn't impressed at all with Dorticos. Gassiev was impressive because Dorticos is short of being an elite fighter. Great fight, though.

dorticos is pretty good. if he and briedis get matched i certainly would consider it a well matched fight, though edge to mairis. i think hed beat lebedev if lebedevs last fight is what to go by. i think he wouldve kod bellew and would beat vlasov

it may end up being that dorticos is more of a glowacki level, but beating him like gassiev did is impressive. tbh pretty much any time a fighter lowers the boom like that in the 12th after a good fight it stands out to me.

I was curious what kind of amateur credentials Gassiev might have and here's what I came up with. He turned pro a little while before his 18th birthday and was only 17 when he finished 3rd at 178 pounds at the Russian National Youth Championships (under age 19). He lost by decision in the semifinals to the eventual champ at 178:

http://amateur-boxing.strefa.pl/Nationa ... a2011j.pdf

Usyk wins I think. Dorticos was giving Gassiev problems early, but he started to slow in the middle of the fight, and Gassiev was able to pour it on and take advantage. One of Usyk's great strengths is his stamina so I don't think he'll be fatiguing the way Dorticos did. On top of that I think he's also a superior boxer to Dorticos.

I expect Usyk to win a competitive decision in another good fight.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑04 Feb 2018, 00:16 Usyk wins I think. Dorticos was giving Gassiev problems early, but he started to slow in the middle of the fight, and Gassiev was able to pour it on and take advantage. One of Usyk's great strengths is his stamina so I don't think he'll be fatiguing the way Dorticos did. On top of that I think he's also a superior boxer to Dorticos.

I expect Usyk to win a competitive decision in another good fight.

First of all, Dorticos didn't just start to slow down, it was a result of Gassiev's body work. Second: Usyk doesn't have a punch to keep Gassiev away. It will be a totally different fight with Gassiev pressing from the first round.

Usyk and Gassiev are 6'3" and 6' 3 1/2" fighting at 200 lbs. They are what used to be known as heavyweights, and big heavyweights at that, before 6'6" or 6'9", 250 pounders came along, and those big fellows should have their own super heavyweight division.

yes and jack johnson was called a 'giant' in his day at all of 6 feet 0 190 pounds, and marciano sometimes weighed in the mids 180s. and this is for same day weigh ins!

meaningwhile 6 foot 2 sullivan barrera weighs in at 190 on fight night. only thing is that hes a light heavy weight!

size has changed a lot. not saying todays guys are superior, but on the whole guys are much bigger today than they were in the same weight classes years ago, in heavyweight and the other divisions.

Gassiev is very good inside, he can make diverse vicious combinations. But he will have difficulties to get inside, because Usyk has a superior footwork and a better jab also. Usyk has everything to outbox Gassiev. The main goal for Usyk, to avoid Gassiev's inside work, to avoid his counters. Usyk is more active, if he is careful enough, he will be more efficient. I'd say, Usyk will take a pretty clear decision.

boxing_rocks wrote: ↑04 Feb 2018, 02:22

gilgamesh wrote: ↑04 Feb 2018, 00:16 Usyk wins I think. Dorticos was giving Gassiev problems early, but he started to slow in the middle of the fight, and Gassiev was able to pour it on and take advantage. One of Usyk's great strengths is his stamina so I don't think he'll be fatiguing the way Dorticos did. On top of that I think he's also a superior boxer to Dorticos.

I expect Usyk to win a competitive decision in another good fight.

First of all, Dorticos didn't just start to slow down, it was a result of Gassiev's body work. Second: Usyk doesn't have a punch to keep Gassiev away. It will be a totally different fight with Gassiev pressing from the first round.

Yeah I'm aware that Gassiev's magnificent body work played a big part in Dorticos getting tired. I still think Usyk is a smoother operator than Dorticos though, and will be able to adjust to Gassiev where Dorticos couldn't.

Should be interesting. A high level clash that figures to go the distance.

Gassiev looked terrific yesterday from the tape I saw of the it.

Yes Doritos appeared fairly one dimensional, short on ideas except to load up on the right hand.

Gassiev will definitely need to continue that spectacular body work to slow down Usyk's work rate.

If Gassiev neglects the body in the early rounds, it figures that Usyk wins a comfortable decision.

Otherwise, it becomes a competitive fight where stamina in the late rounds will be the deciding factor.

Opening odds are out and Usyk is a solid 3-1 favorite.

I would have thought it would be closer considering how dominant Gassiev appeared yesterday. Those odds might shorten.

Mexi-Box wrote: ↑03 Feb 2018, 20:40

TempleSlave wrote: ↑03 Feb 2018, 20:33 If somehow Gassiev manages to make it physical, close the distance, the fight is his for the taking. I can’t see Usyk being able to trouble Murat with anything as he seems to have a serious beard on him. If Usyk’s gameplan is anything like vs Briedis, I can definitely see him getting into trouble as Gassiev has more power and more tools in his toolbox. Theoretically/on paper 55:45 fight with Usyk slight favourite but my vote goes to the young wolf

No, not at all. Briedis is a more complete boxer than Gassiev, and the power display doesn't seem to be all the much of a difference for either fighter. I think this will be easier for Usyk than Briedis was.

I disagree. Time will tell but IMO at the very least, this one is going to be much harder for Usyk. Judging by what he looked like in Briedis fight, he’ll be eating tons of these evil MG’s body hooks and uppercuts... Also let’s not forget that Gassiev is only 24 and guys at this age tend to improve from fight to fight.