Boxing

[NeilMorepies]

I can’t process the possibility of a Joshua fighting Jake Paul , I find it bizarre but also deeply deeply irritating

I don’t think Joshua would contractually agree not to hit him and take the dive.

 

[kenada_blue]

Was listening to the 5Live commentary on the way home earlier. All the BBC pundits and British fighters taking up Dubois. Roy Jones Jr was interviewed and basically said he had no chance.

I think the British underestimate Usyk massively.

Dont think they/we underestimate him, i think its more to do with the majority of the best heavyweights are British and they all are bigger than him with attributes that could, on paper, cause damage.

Only chance Dubois had was the hope Usyk's age played a factor and he tagged him with a big right. Neither happened but could've.

Which re-enforces just how good Usyk is. Hes also undefeated and unified at 2 weights.

 

[kenada_blue]

Sadly for him, the era is garbage. It's amazing if people turn up in shape.

He's amazing, but he'd have struggled in the 90's IMO. Lennox would have beaten him and plenty of others would have given him serious issues.

I don't even think Dubois would have been British champ in the 90's. Gary Mason was far better

I dunno about struggling in the 90s, he'd have been one of the top contenders and a threat just purely based on ring intelligence. A lot of those fellers were just big punchers and brawlers.

You'd be hard pressed not to find an ex professional from any decade saying he wouldn't have competed on that alone.

I think just down to the amount of fights, the weights, and how varied the opponents have been puts his hat in the ring so to speak

 

[Rita_Poon]

I dunno about struggling in the 90s, he'd have been one of the top contenders and a threat just purely based on ring intelligence. A lot of those fellers were just big punchers and brawlers.

You'd be hard pressed not to find an ex professional from any decade saying he wouldn't have competed on that alone.

I think just down to the amount of fights, the weights, and how varied the opponents have been puts his hat in the ring so to speak

Usyk vs Holyfield at cruiser would be a spectacle.

 

[Blue peter]

Usyk is a better, more skilful boxer than any of those 90s boxers. Whether he’d have beaten them is another matter, as I think as a big heavyweight, Lennox Lewis for example would have beaten AJ, Fury etc.

 

[Root66]

Lennox Lewis lost to two fighters that someone like Usyk would likely have handled with ease. Even Frank Bruno had Lennox on the back foot for much of their bout.

There’s a recurring bias where people assume the current era isn’t as strong as the past. But in virtually every sport where performance is measured by stopwatches or measuring tapes, athletes improve over time—and boxing is no exception.

Take Henry Cooper, for example. In today’s era, he probably wouldn’t be a contender. Yet he managed to knock down a young Muhammad Ali and land on him repeatedly. Still, many speak of Ali as if he were completely untouchable in his prime. The reality is more nuanced.

Lewis got arrogant. Then smashed them in the rematch.

'even' frank Bruno? He'd be world champion now. Only ever lost to exceptional fighters.

Lewis would have knocked usyk out. Far too big, too fast and unlike fury etc would be willing to go to war. Lewis was one of the best inside fighters I've seen. It would have been quite easy for him

 

[Root66]

I dunno about struggling in the 90s, he'd have been one of the top contenders and a threat just purely based on ring intelligence. A lot of those fellers were just big punchers and brawlers.

You'd be hard pressed not to find an ex professional from any decade saying he wouldn't have competed on that alone.

I think just down to the amount of fights, the weights, and how varied the opponents have been puts his hat in the ring so to speak

I meant struggled to dominate. He's amazing, I've said that. But a few were back then. Heavies now are so bad, really bad. No head movement. Tommy Morrison would have given him kittens tbf, Ray mercer would have taken him to the depths of hell.

It's different now.

Dubois has no business fighting for a world title at all

 

[Librarian]

Lewis got arrogant. Then smashed them in the rematch.

'even' frank Bruno? He'd be world champion now. Only ever lost to exceptional fighters.

Lewis would have knocked usyk out. Far too big, too fast and unlike fury etc would be willing to go to war. Lewis was one of the best inside fighters I've seen. It would have been quite easy for him

Watching that era back they did a lot of holding and hugging, Usyk is different level to all of them.

All sports move on, this one is no different

 

[Root66]

Usyk is a better, more skilful boxer than any of those 90s boxers. Whether he’d have beaten them is another matter, as I think as a big heavyweight, Lennox Lewis for example would have beaten AJ, Fury etc.

Very debatable in my view. Ik not sure he's more skillful than Lewis. Lewis was an Olympic gold medalist.

One of the best jabs ever, and as an inside fighter unrivaled.

Usyks footwork is another level though

 

[Tigger]

Best ever for me, looking back at old footage nobody is on his level for movement, precision and decent power. Non stop engine on him would give anyone nightmares.

 

[kenada_blue]

I meant struggled to dominate. He's amazing, I've said that. But a few were back then. Heavies now are so bad, really bad. No head movement. Tommy Morrison would have given him kittens tbf, Ray mercer would have taken him to the depths of hell.

It's different now.

Dubois has no business fighting for a world title at all

Oh i agree, there were absolute killers across all the divisions compared to now - genuine mentally unstable fighters which is lacking today.

But you also had George Foreman leathering the division and getting a title shot at 42 at one point.

Usyk would be in the mix. But i agree they'd be closer calls.

 

[kenada_blue]

Lewis got arrogant. Then smashed them in the rematch.

'even' frank Bruno? He'd be world champion now. Only ever lost to exceptional fighters.

Lewis would have knocked usyk out. Far too big, too fast and unlike fury etc would be willing to go to war. Lewis was one of the best inside fighters I've seen. It would have been quite easy for him

Those fighters were also ring smart which i do think isn't there today. If they were bigger and had to be a big horrible clinch monster for 12 rounds to get the job done, they would.

Fair few now seem to be "ill do my own thing" and have no plan B.

 

[Librarian]

Best ever for me, looking back at old footage nobody is on his level for movement, precision and decent power. Non stop engine on him would give anyone nightmares.

His record is unmatched.

European, World and Olympic Heavyweight champion, then collects all the cruiserweight then heavyweight belts, twice and remains undefeated in a land of giants against boxers with several stones of weight advantage on him.

You would need to be blind not to see it.

Looking at old footage takes away the mystique of the past.

 

[Librarian]

 

[Blue 1]

Lewis got arrogant. Then smashed them in the rematch.

'even' frank Bruno? He'd be world champion now. Only ever lost to exceptional fighters.

Lewis would have knocked usyk out. Far too big, too fast and unlike fury etc would be willing to go to war. Lewis was one of the best inside fighters I've seen. It would have been quite easy for him

I'm no Fury fan but how can you say he wasn't willing to "go to war" after those fights with Wilder? Usyk boxed his head off. Twice.

I am a Lewis fan, he's one of my G.O.A.T. boxers, and while I wouldn't like to call the result, I think Usyk would've given him a horrible time of it. Usyk is also legend tier, among the best I've seen. Phenomenal boxer.