BoxRec

Who do you think?

If it was me I would make a play for Andy Ruiz.

I would tell his management team why fight for the number one position against Wilder or for the IBF mandatory when you can go for the real title?

I would also use it as some sort of bargaining chip in a way because I would sell it like, "I beat the man who made Usyk look bad in Chisora, and now I'm going to beat the man who beat Joshua as well."

Ngannou or Dubois.

Probably be Yoka!

If not Usyk then theyll likely chase Ngannou

Someone not up to the task.

HomicideHenry wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 08:50 If it was me I would make a play for Andy Ruiz.

I would tell his management team why fight for the number one position against Wilder or for the IBF mandatory when you can go for the real title?

I would also use it as some sort of bargaining chip in a way because I would sell it like, "I beat the man who made Usyk look bad in Chisora, and now I'm going to beat the man who beat Joshua as well."

Instead of doing that, why not just fight Uysk and Joshua?

Imagine if Lennox had just said, I can't be bothered to box these guys because I am too amazing and they won't pay me enough but you will have to take my word that I would have beaten Holyfield, Tua, Mercer and Golota etc

Or Ali didn't box George Foreman or Joe Frazier and said, but, look, I beat some of the people who had beaten them..

It's a shame for the sport as well as Fury. And for Uysk who wants to fight for the Undisputed title.

Dubois most likely. Fwank's meat to fill the gap. However, I guess, the Usyk bout gotta happen. It's the now-or-never situation.

big lennox wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 09:24

HomicideHenry wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 08:50 If it was me I would make a play for Andy Ruiz.

I would tell his management team why fight for the number one position against Wilder or for the IBF mandatory when you can go for the real title?

I would also use it as some sort of bargaining chip in a way because I would sell it like, "I beat the man who made Usyk look bad in Chisora, and now I'm going to beat the man who beat Joshua as well."

Instead of doing that, why not just fight Uysk and Joshua?

Imagine if Lennox had just said, I can't be bothered to box these guys because I am too amazing and they won't pay me enough but you will have to take my word that I would have beaten Holyfield, Tua, Mercer and Golota etc

Or Ali didn't box George Foreman or Joe Frazier and said, but, look, I beat some of the people who had beaten them..

It's a shame for the sport as well as Fury. And for Uysk who wants to fight for the Undisputed title.

Trust me I want the Usyk fight, but if it's not going to happen then I would rather Tyson Fury fight someone who was at one point the unified champion which is what Andy Ruiz was. And then once that was over you could try to get Usyk again, and if for any reason that fell through again you could go for Anthony Joshua.

Just from my perspective if you're going to have a fight then it better be somebody who is either high-ranking or someone who laid claim to the heavyweight championship of the world too.

As for Lennox Lewis, let's not put him too high on a pedestal because I remember when he sold the IBF belt in the hopes of a clash with Roy Jones. And when that blew up in his face he did not follow through with facing Chris Byrd. He also flat out refused to fight John Ruiz. Which is quite a travesty because he could have added the WBA strap to his collection in a very easily winnable fight. Lennox Lewis could be a political animal too don't think for one minute that he was above politics or money making schemes.

HomicideHenry wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 08:50 I would also use it as some sort of bargaining chip in a way because I would sell it like, "I beat the man who made Usyk look bad in Chisora, and now I'm going to beat the man who beat Joshua as well."

He didn't make Usyk look bad though did he?

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 09:33

HomicideHenry wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 08:50 I would also use it as some sort of bargaining chip in a way because I would sell it like, "I beat the man who made Usyk look bad in Chisora, and now I'm going to beat the man who beat Joshua as well."

He didn't make Usyk look bad though did he?

Personally I think he did because even though he won it gave every impression in the world that he would struggle with Anthony Joshua. Now one can believe that the Ukrainian purposely made himself look like crap holding back, or quite frankly Dereck Chisora was just all wrong for him because of his pressure style.

I'm just continuously blown away with people revising history acting like it was a master class performance from the Ukrainian in his second fight as a heavyweight when really he looked kind of vulnerable in it.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 09:33

HomicideHenry wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 08:50 I would also use it as some sort of bargaining chip in a way because I would sell it like, "I beat the man who made Usyk look bad in Chisora, and now I'm going to beat the man who beat Joshua as well."

He didn't make Usyk look bad though did he?

I was one of the people who thought Usyk got it but he did not look brilliant. Same with Witherspoon.

Bakolie might get the call. Just going on something Billy said in an interview a couple of weeks ago.

HomicideHenry wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 09:38

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 09:33

HomicideHenry wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 08:50 I would also use it as some sort of bargaining chip in a way because I would sell it like, "I beat the man who made Usyk look bad in Chisora, and now I'm going to beat the man who beat Joshua as well."

He didn't make Usyk look bad though did he?

Personally I think he did because even though he won it gave every impression in the world that he would struggle with Anthony Joshua. Now one can believe that the Ukrainian purposely made himself look like crap holding back, or quite frankly Dereck Chisora was just all wrong for him because of his pressure style.

I'm just continuously blown away with people revising history acting like it was a master class performance from the Ukrainian in his second fight as a heavyweight when really he looked kind of vulnerable in it.

It was a clear 8-4, where Usyk was never in any trouble.

I am reminded of the uproar throughout the boxing world and beyond when Lennox Lewis refused to face Chris Byrd and John Ruiz. It truly was shocking.

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 09:43

HomicideHenry wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 09:38

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 09:33

He didn't make Usyk look bad though did he?

Personally I think he did because even though he won it gave every impression in the world that he would struggle with Anthony Joshua. Now one can believe that the Ukrainian purposely made himself look like crap holding back, or quite frankly Dereck Chisora was just all wrong for him because of his pressure style.

I'm just continuously blown away with people revising history acting like it was a master class performance from the Ukrainian in his second fight as a heavyweight when really he looked kind of vulnerable in it.

It was a clear 8-4, where Usyk was never in any trouble.

I don't know how anyone can say that when there was a lot of talk after the match of how close it was where some people thought it was either a draw or that Chisora should have gotten it because he was the aggressor throughout the contest.

How anyone can say it was a clear-cut victory for the Ukrainian by such a wide margin as you say kind of perplexes me. I understand everybody has their favorites or they see fights differently than others but the consensus on that fight was that if Usyk performed like that against a man who seen better days he was going to have trouble with Anthony Joshua.

Which is why it was a shock to many people myself included that he won as easily as he did against Anthony Joshua considering how competitive the fight with Chisora was.

The Gratest wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 09:47 I am reminded of the uproar throughout the boxing world and beyond when Lennox Lewis refused to face Chris Byrd and John Ruiz. It truly was shocking.

There was no uproar because nobody cared to watch John Ruiz or Chris Byrd either one but that is besides the point. They had the other belts that Lennox Lewis did not have, or quite frankly Lennox Lewis had no interest in fighting them even though he dropped the IBF belt for a few million dollars in the hopes that Roy Jones would fight Evander Holyfield setting up a super fight with him.

HomicideHenry wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 09:38

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 09:33

HomicideHenry wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 08:50 I would also use it as some sort of bargaining chip in a way because I would sell it like, "I beat the man who made Usyk look bad in Chisora, and now I'm going to beat the man who beat Joshua as well."

He didn't make Usyk look bad though did he?

Personally I think he did because even though he won it gave every impression in the world that he would struggle with Anthony Joshua. Now one can believe that the Ukrainian purposely made himself look like crap holding back, or quite frankly Dereck Chisora was just all wrong for him because of his pressure style.

I'm just continuously blown away with people revising history acting like it was a master class performance from the Ukrainian in his second fight as a heavyweight when really he looked kind of vulnerable in it.

Whilst I don't think he performed bad on purpose, i think Usyk struggled a little in the first couple rounds, but then adjusted and coasted. Once he figured Chisora out, it wasn't tough.

You can have your opinion though ofcourse.

The Gratest wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 09:47 I am reminded of the uproar throughout the boxing world and beyond when Lennox Lewis refused to face Chris Byrd and John Ruiz. It truly was shocking.

Henry never said that. He is clearly stating facts, which he is obviously quite well informed on. I had forgotten this, had you?

HomicideHenry wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 09:50

The Gratest wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 09:47 I am reminded of the uproar throughout the boxing world and beyond when Lennox Lewis refused to face Chris Byrd and John Ruiz. It truly was shocking.

There was no uproar because nobody cared to watch John Ruiz or Chris Byrd either one but that is besides the point. They had the other belts that Lennox Lewis did not have, or quite frankly Lennox Lewis had no interest in fighting them even though he dropped the IBF belt for a few million dollars in the hopes that Roy Jones would fight Evander Holyfield setting up a super fight with him.

I guess my sarcasm just flew right over you.
He didn't fight them because they were meaningless fights. He'd already unified the titles and taking on the likes of Byrd (who you labeled a drug cheat the other day) or Ruiz (KO'd in quick time by Tua, someone Lewis handled with ease) just did not have the appeal for someone who was now at the finishing stages of his career.
Those contests are in no way comparable to Fury not facing Usyk, which is, by far, the biggest HW fight out there and most important one for a long ling time.
What would've been comparable would be Lewis refusing to face Holyfield. But he did, twice.

mickey1975 wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 09:56

The Gratest wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 09:47 I am reminded of the uproar throughout the boxing world and beyond when Lennox Lewis refused to face Chris Byrd and John Ruiz. It truly was shocking.

Henry never said that. He is clearly stating facts, which he is obviously quite well informed on. I had forgotten this, had you?

Tongue in cheek. Stop being so uptight

The Gratest wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 10:09

mickey1975 wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 09:56

The Gratest wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 09:47 I am reminded of the uproar throughout the boxing world and beyond when Lennox Lewis refused to face Chris Byrd and John Ruiz. It truly was shocking.

Henry never said that. He is clearly stating facts, which he is obviously quite well informed on. I had forgotten this, had you?

Tongue in cheek. Stop being so uptight

So do you? Genuine question, i cannot be bothered to go on all day today, anyway, its starting to make the forum look silly.

The Gratest wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 10:08

HomicideHenry wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 09:50

The Gratest wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 09:47 I am reminded of the uproar throughout the boxing world and beyond when Lennox Lewis refused to face Chris Byrd and John Ruiz. It truly was shocking.

There was no uproar because nobody cared to watch John Ruiz or Chris Byrd either one but that is besides the point. They had the other belts that Lennox Lewis did not have, or quite frankly Lennox Lewis had no interest in fighting them even though he dropped the IBF belt for a few million dollars in the hopes that Roy Jones would fight Evander Holyfield setting up a super fight with him.

I guess my sarcasm just flew right over you.
He didn't fight them because they were meaningless fights. He'd already unified the titles and taking on the likes of Byrd (who you labeled a drug cheat the other day) or Ruiz (KO'd in quick time by Tua, someone Lewis handled with ease) just did not have the appeal for someone who was now at the finishing stages of his career.
Those contests are in no way comparable to Fury not facing Usyk, which is, by far, the biggest HW fight out there and most important one for a long ling time.
What would've been comparable would be Lewis refusing to face Holyfield. But he did, twice.

Ruiz did go 1-1-1 with Holy. Most people had Lewis go 1-1 although officially 1-0-1.

mickey1975 wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 10:15

The Gratest wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 10:09

mickey1975 wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 09:56
Henry never said that. He is clearly stating facts, which he is obviously quite well informed on. I had forgotten this, had you?

Tongue in cheek. Stop being so uptight

So do you? Genuine question, i cannot be bothered to go on all day today, anyway, its starting to make the forum look silly.

Had I remembered what? That Lewis refusing to face Byrd or Ruiz was in no way comparable to Fury not facing Usyk?

It's you that's quoting me all the time Mickey, you've become a tad bit obsessed.

The Gratest wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 10:20

mickey1975 wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 10:15

The Gratest wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 10:09
Tongue in cheek. Stop being so uptight

So do you? Genuine question, i cannot be bothered to go on all day today, anyway, its starting to make the forum look silly.

Had I remembered what? That Lewis refusing to face Byrd or Ruiz was in no way comparable to Fury not facing Usyk?

It's you that's quoting me all the time Mickey, you've become a tad bit obsessed.

I really havent.. Serious question, have you just started following boxing?

mickey1975 wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 10:17

The Gratest wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 10:08

HomicideHenry wrote: ↑22 Feb 2023, 09:50

There was no uproar because nobody cared to watch John Ruiz or Chris Byrd either one but that is besides the point. They had the other belts that Lennox Lewis did not have, or quite frankly Lennox Lewis had no interest in fighting them even though he dropped the IBF belt for a few million dollars in the hopes that Roy Jones would fight Evander Holyfield setting up a super fight with him.

I guess my sarcasm just flew right over you.
He didn't fight them because they were meaningless fights. He'd already unified the titles and taking on the likes of Byrd (who you labeled a drug cheat the other day) or Ruiz (KO'd in quick time by Tua, someone Lewis handled with ease) just did not have the appeal for someone who was now at the finishing stages of his career.
Those contests are in no way comparable to Fury not facing Usyk, which is, by far, the biggest HW fight out there and most important one for a long ling time.
What would've been comparable would be Lewis refusing to face Holyfield. But he did, twice.

Ruiz did go 1-1-1 with Holy. Most people had Lewis go 1-1 although officially 1-0-1.

Yeah, he had a stinking awkward style that didn't allow Holyfield (at that stage in his career) to time his rhythm and fight his usual fight.
A more long range boxer like Lewis would have used his jab and probably got him out of there by the mid to late rounds.

Styles make fights and I for one, am glad we didn't witness Lewis v Ruiz.