Murat Gassiev v Oleksandr Usyk May 11th

[Taansend]

Obviously the best place for a Russian to fight a Ukrainian is in Saudi Arabia.

So May 11th these two meet in the final of the Cruiserweight tournament.

How do you see it panning out?

[jamamb]

the winner may well rank as the cruiser atg #2 after the great holyfield. great division but not much historical depth.

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. also the one punch that dorticos did land regularly was the jab and usyk jabs well when he does jab.

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.

also gass is far better inside than usyk. but can he get there enough?

[Boxing Writer]

Obviously the best place for a Russian to fight a Ukrainian is in Saudi Arabia.

From polytical standpoint - yes, but Gassiev is a Muslim while Usyk is a Christain, so most of the spectators in Saudi Arabia will be rooting for Gassiev. But I don't think it will have any influense on the result of the fight - Usyk by UD

[rd350lc]

Gassiev looks teak tough , but usyk will give him a boxing lesson

[Counter-puncher]

Obviously the best place for a Russian to fight a Ukrainian is in Saudi Arabia.

From polytical standpoint - yes, but Gassiev is a Muslim while Usyk is a Christain, so most of the spectators in Saudi Arabia will be rooting for Gassiev. But I don't think it will have any influense on the result of the fight - Usyk by UD

I think you may be giving too much credit for the fellow-feeling towards Muslims of the Gulf Arabs. Generally they're phenomenally racist and feel superior to non-Gulf-Arabs, Muslim or not.

[Stuarty]

Gassiev looks teak tough, but usyk will give him a boxing lesson

Are you Jim Watt in disguise

[jamamb]

thing with usyk is that lately he seems like hes verging on not actually 'boxing' so much as he used to. in the amateurs, wsb, and in his title winning fight he boxed very disciplined and with lots of good jabs. thats the best usyk and hes excellent in that mode . but lately hes gotten more aggressive and almost like a pressure fighter with a very good engine.. but he gets sloppy and much easier to hit in that mode. tbh it was his stamina as much as his boxing skill that won him the briedis fight imo.

i think this fight hed be well served by returning to his boxing, while still being active enough to take advantage of gassievs regular inactive spells.

the biggest obstacle i have to picking gassiev though is that he seems rather programed and predictable, (briedis imo is 'trickier') and his inactive spells are a bit long. but the man is a tank and a precise compact puncher with the best lead uppercut around.

[rd350lc]

Gassiev looks teak tough, but usyk will give him a boxing lesson

Are you Jim Watt in disguise

Aye ladee

[Stuarty]

Gassiev looks teak tough, but usyk will give him a boxing lesson

Are you Jim Watt in disguise

Aye ladee

[samwbr]

The burning question is will Michelle Joy Phelps be in full burka during fight week and on the night itself?
And what about the ring girls?

[Spud]

It will be a great fight.

Personally, I think Usyk has too much for Gassiev.

Had the pleasure of sitting next to Usyk’s trainer on a flight from Sochi to Istanbul on Sunday morning. Discussed loads, but one thing for sure Team Usyk think Gassiev is a highly dangerous & credible opponent