Comments Thread For: Oleksandr Usyk To Return in Mid-May In U.S. As A Heavyweight

[Andrij]

Usyk is 31 or 32 years old but not fighting first 6 months of the year, basically, when his name was just hottest. These promoters seem to underrate both momentum, and the importance of age. Usyk probably has 2 to 4 good years left and they are only fighting him after 6-7 months instead of after 4, which is wasting 2-3 months for nothing. These promoters seem to take for granted that their fighter will be able to maintain prime form until age 35+ like Floyd did, then when their fighter can't do it like most 90% of fighters primes dont last until 35, they are left holding the bag while the career falls apart because the fights they should have made while their fighter was still elite they did not make until he was 35 years old, and by that point it's too late for him to perform at the level needed to have success in those fights and push his career to superstardom like would have happened had he gotten those wins in his prime.

The problem is that Usyk said himself that he needs more time to recover from boxing.He complained before the Bellew fight that he had only 1 month break from boxing in the entire year 2018.

[Andrij]

Rivas would make sense but I think he's an ESPN fighter now.

Not sure if Parker will take that fight. Probably wants to build himself with another win or two and then challenge for a title. A loss to Usyk here would be a killer for him.

Yes but Arum told Usyk after the Gvozdyk vs. Stevenson fight that he plans something for him in 2019. Also Rivas is unbeaten and holds the IBF & WBO International titles which would catapult Usyk straight into top position in both sanctioning bodies.

[Liondw]

A fight for Usyk against Wilder could be very interesting in the future, with Wilder not that big, very powerful but technically deficient.

[paulf]

Are we headed towards Usyk-Miller for the WBA "regular" title?

[kidaguilar]

Uysk made Belew lose 35lbs and still didn't look amazing. He won't be taking on any top-rated heavyweights, that's for sure.

What do you mean he didn't look amazing? He almost knocked his head off his shoulders and K.O. him in front of his home town.

[KTFOKING]

Yes but Arum told Usyk after the Gvozdyk vs. Stevenson fight that he plans something for him in 2019. Also Rivas is unbeaten and holds the IBF & WBO International titles which would catapult Usyk straight into top position in both sanctioning bodies.

I mean if he gets Rivas, I wouldn't mind that at all. Nice first fight at HW.

Just not sure how realistic it is.

[Randall Cunning]

Yes but Arum told Usyk after the Gvozdyk vs. Stevenson fight that he plans something for him in 2019. Also Rivas is unbeaten and holds the IBF & WBO International titles which would catapult Usyk straight into top position in both sanctioning bodies.

Usyk will be WBO mandatory as soon as he moves up, privilege of a "Super" champion. Arum aint offering anything to Usyk, hes a DAZN/Matchroom fighter. Pulev vs Rivas is the most likely fight

[Bronx2245]

I think Charles Martin would be a great test for Usyk's first fight at HW!

[Andrij]

I think Charles Martin would be a great test for Usyk's first fight at HW!

Krassyuk said that Usyk will face either a former World Champ (Povetkin,Parker,Martin) or a current top Heavyweight.

[UNBIASED BOXING]

How long before Usyk gets bashed like Lomachenko and other successful white/European-boxers?



Anyways, surprised he's practically taking 6 months break in between fights. Was hoping he would be back by say, March, or April at the latest.