BoxRec

Dan Rafael: ESPN.COM: Hearn said May 18 is the target date, with Chicago as a possible location, for the southpaw Usyk (16-0, 12 KOs), 32, of Ukraine, to face contender Povetkin (34-2, 24 KOs), 39, of Russia, in a fight that would mark Usyk's official entrance into the heavyweight division.

Mentioned in following article:
http://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/2 ... ext-fights

would be a strong hw debut fight, getting right to business

He'd definitely be jumping into the deep end of the pool by choosing Povetkin as his 1st Heavyweight opponent, but with Usyk I'd expect no less. I think he'd be able to outbox Povetkin, and earn a UD. Hell I thought Huck beat Povetkin several years ago, but the judges gave the nod to Pov. I think Usyk will be able to outbox him clear. 116-112 or 117-111 or thereabouts I'm thinking. He might get shook by Povetkin's power on a few occasions, but he'll hold up.

i wish Usyk would start with someone lower down in the heavyweight ranking. Two reasons: That's the way it should be done...and two, I am afraid that he will beat Povetkin badly. I like Povetkin and I wanted him to be champion, but Usyk is something special. If he really does beat Povetkin badly the next step for Usyk in the heavyweight division would be for the title, Joshua, Wilder, Fury, or someone. But I would really NOT like to see this fight come to pass at this time.

great fight--should happen right now !

usyks matchmaking is refreshing, f@ck some gatekeeper hw campaign debut, lets get a good well ranking win straight away

No surprise, usyk ain't one to play around. He'll win easily.

Well, a really good fight. Hopefully it'll be made official. Povetkin is still dangerous and highly ranked, so it's a true challenge and a ticket to the HW top for Usyk. Of course, Povetkin is aging and this will probably help Usyk in the 2nd half of the fight, but anyway Usyk is a stylistical nightmare for Povetkin. Actually for everyone out there. Except Fury.

Good choice for both. Rianinsky is looking to earn back some money he wasted on Povetkin. Povetkin also have problems in his business initiatives. And all other HW that can nring money are already taken.

For Usyk it’s good to start with the smallest HW with top rank and on decline for years now.

If this comes to pass, full props to Usyk for not messing about.

Usyk's only problem is that if he beats Povetkin handily, he'll be ready for the big time, but he'll have to wait around for the big 3 to sort themselves out, and that could take 12 - 18 months, so he'll have to fight lesser opposition (Whyte excepted) in the meantime and that would be pointless.

bigman1968 wrote: ↑16 Feb 2019, 04:13 Good choice for both. Rianinsky is looking to earn back some money he wasted on Povetkin. Povetkin also have problems in his business initiatives. And all other HW that can nring money are already taken.

For Usyk it’s good to start with the smallest HW with top rank and on decline for years now.

Riabansky cut his losses with roidboy. He's with hearn now.

Tough tough first fight. He'd want to put on a fair bit of beef I think.

Povetkin. A smallish, aging name heavyweight. Coming off a KO defeat.

A smart choice for Usyk. Don't see him having too much difficulty dispatching Povetkin.

What Usyk weighs is irrelevant. He'll undoubtedly put on close to 25 lbs. this year. He'll be big enough.

In the end, it's talent that matters.

Usky would do well to not beef up too much, his main asset is his speed and manouverability, so no sense in sacrificing that by adding heft he cannot easily carry.

jamesmcdonnell wrote: ↑16 Feb 2019, 12:54 Usky would do well to not beef up too much, his main asset is his speed and manouverability, so no sense in sacrificing that by adding heft he cannot easily carry.

I'd bet his fight night weight is at least 215 at CW, so 220-225 would have no ill effects on his ability.

Really risky from Usyk. He might regret it if he takes it. He hasn’t fought anyone who can bang like Povetkin.

Povetkin is old and shot, still among top ten HW.
Recent Usyk vs. Povetkin in his prime, would have been a hell of fight.
Right now - Usyk, easily.

Povetkin was never anywhere near as good as usyk. Alexander was at his best the same time of his career as usyk is now. He's been lazy ever since. The worst thing he ever did was bring Atlas into his life. Teddy kills careers.

Povetkin was always over rated.

And he's more or less shot now at 39.

Arguably Joshua's best win though funnily enough.

funny enough hes actually younger then ortiz

jamamb wrote: ↑16 Feb 2019, 18:22 funny enough hes actually younger then ortiz

People decline at different ages and at different rates.

One man's 40 is another man's 30

still looked a top 10 hw when i saw him last, is there any doubt hed easily beat up cojanu or kauffman? and he already dominated 'good fight' orts next one.

jamamb wrote: ↑16 Feb 2019, 18:27 still looked a top 10 hw when i saw him last, j doubt hed have any problems beating up cojanu or kauffman and he already dominated 'good fight' orts next one.

Yeah but his last time out was against your boy AJ who you rate too highly.

even if true you really think hes not battering guys like cojanu and kauffman? i just dont see how you say hes shot at 39 but the others just fine at even older

ewenhay wrote: ↑16 Feb 2019, 18:15 Povetkin was always over rated.

And he's more or less shot now at 39.

Arguably Joshua's best win though funnily enough.

In the manner he won , or the opponent ?
Klitschko got to be better surely ?