7 Brits in a row for Usyk.

you could argue then that the most popular sport in the world, football, takes away the majority of the lower weight guys, 150 to 200 pound guys I'm sure that's the case, but soccer is popular globally while American football is only popular in North America. Basketball is becoming a global game, but it's still extremely lopsided towards Americans at this point in time. So the NFL and the NBA have an outsized effect on American heavyweight boxing as compared to the effect of other sports on other specific countries.

Not just great athletes, but those two leagues specifically are looking for great athletes over 200 pounds. You can be 165 pounds and excel in soccer or baseball or even hockey, but the vast majority of the talent in the NFL and NBA are well over 6 feet tall and 200 pounds. So they impact the heavyweight division more intensely than they do the middle range weights (126-168) where Americans still make up the majority of belt holders and independent top 10 rankings. you could argue then that the most popular sport in the world, football, takes away the majority of the lower weight guys, 150 to 200 pound guys

When Ennis beat Stanionis, we didn't say he became a 2X welterweight champion. He became a unified champion. One title reign, uninterrupted. I see your point, but the difference is that he only became unified champion through that last fight - he unified once, didn't he. Undisputed should be different anyhow, given that there are multiple ways to become unified champion (different combinations of trinkets, without necessarily being THE champion), but only one way to become undisputed. Usyk obviously thinks that's reason enough.

Struggling to believe that. They might have the most, but surely they don't make up the majority? 126 belt holders: Leo (USA), Fulton (USA), Ball (UK), Espinoza (Mexico) 130 belt holders: Roach (USA), Foster (USA), Navarrete (Mexico) 135 belt holders: Davis (USA), Davis (USA), Stevenson (USA), Lomachenko (Ukraine) 140 belt holders: Russell (USA), Puello (Dominican Republic), Hitchins (USA), Lopez (USA) 147 belt holders: Ennis (USA) x2, Norman (USA), Barrios (USA) 154 belt holders: Crawford (USA), Fundora (USA) x2, Murtazaliev (Russia) 160 belt holders: Lara (USA/Cuba), Adames (Dominican Republic), Janibek (Kazakhstan) x2 168 belt holders: Canelo (Mexico) x3, Scull (Germany/Cuba) Totals USA: 18 including Lara, 17 if you count Lara as Cuban Mexico: 5 Dominican Republic: 2 Kazakhstan: 2 UK: 1 Ukraine: 1 Germany: 1 including Scull, 0 if you count Scull as Cuban The TBRB rankings aren't quite as far tilted towards the US, but pretty close.

Not just great athletes, but those two leagues specifically are looking for great athletes over 200 pounds. You can be 165 pounds and excel in soccer or baseball or even hockey, but the vast majority of the talent in the NFL and NBA are well over 6 feet tall and 200 pounds. So they impact the heavyweight division more intensely than they do the middle range weights (126-168) where Americans still make up the majority of belt holders and independent top 10 rankings. Struggling to believe that. They might have the most, but surely they don't make up the majority?

It that so? Has this ever happened / was this ever the case? It's happening this weekend with Canelo and Scull. But usually when a fighter gets stripped he doesn't bother going back to collect the missing belt. But when someone unifies, we still consider that a single title reign. When Ennis beat Stanionis, we didn't say he became a 2X welterweight champion. He became a unified champion. One title reign, uninterrupted.

There is indeed a lot more opportunities for great athletes. Not just great athletes, but those two leagues specifically are looking for great athletes over 200 pounds. You can be 165 pounds and excel in soccer or baseball or even hockey, but the vast majority of the talent in the NFL and NBA are well over 6 feet tall and 200 pounds. So they impact the heavyweight division more intensely than they do the middle range weights (126-168) where Americans still make up the majority of belt holders and independent top 10 rankings.

2X undisputed is pretty meaningless when he never actually lost any of the belts in the ring. It's still the same title reign. It that so? Has this ever happened / was this ever the case?

All the great American heavyweights are in the NFL and the NBA. That's the reality of the situation. All of our best athletes are funneled into the most popular sports. Even Wilder ended up in boxing because he didn't have the grades for a college football or basketball career. There is indeed a lot more opportunities for great athletes.

It's the temptation of 2 x undisputed champ, which is somewhat understandable in terms of legacy. Of course, even if Usyk wins by KO or shutout, there will still be posters here who claim that it's now 1:1.​ 2X undisputed is pretty meaningless when he never actually lost any of the belts in the ring. He won all the belts, got stripped of one for dumb political reasons, and is now trying to win it back. It's still the same title reign. It was a far more impressive feat to become undisputed in two weight classes than it would be to win a trinket he already won back.

It's the temptation of 2 x undisputed champ, which is somewhat understandable in terms of legacy. Of course, even if Usyk wins by KO or shutout, there will still be posters here who claim that it's now 1:1.​

It's the temptation of 2 x undisputed champ, which is somewhat understandable in terms of legacy. Of course, even if Usyk wins by KO or shutout, there will still be posters here who claim that it's now 1:1.

A weak division and the myth of the "American Heavyweight." Most so called American heavyweights are international fighters... Guys who came over to train in Brooklyn or Vegas. The last real Great American fighters who came up was probably in the late eighties, early nineties. Most subsequent heavyweights have not been great. Guys like Jared... etc. American born heavyweights are just a concept based on past glory... Like the Philly fighters: Frazier to Terrible Tim. The reality is the great American gyms that produced such fighters are gone, or international in scope. All the great American heavyweights are in the NFL and the NBA. That's the reality of the situation. All of our best athletes are funneled into the most popular sports. Even Wilder ended up in boxing because he didn't have the grades for a college football or basketball career.

Kind of weird his last 7 fights will have all been against British fighters. Shows how strong the HW scene is here too tbf. Maybe we get Chisora II next. :lol1: A weak division and the myth of the "American Heavyweight." Most so called American heavyweights are international fighters... Guys who came over to train in Brooklyn or Vegas. The last real Great American fighters who came up was probably in the late eighties, early nineties. Most subsequent heavyweights have not been great. Guys like Jared... etc. American born heavyweights are just a concept based on past glory... Like the Philly fighters: Frazier to Terrible Tim. The reality is the great American gyms that produced such fighters are gone, or international in scope.

The Dubois rematch is the most unnecessary of all. Usyk won every second of their first fight and knocked him out on a jab. It doesn't get more definitive than that.

He hasnt fought a non-Brit since 2019. He has also now rematched 3 of his 4 British HW opponents. Would much rather he fought Parker or Kabayel next instead of this. Regaining the IBF bauble apparently means something to him. Who can blame him when most of the fans and media keep banging on about "undisputed" and this glorious "four belt era"? It looks like one of Kabayel and Parker are going to miss out so they may as well fight each other instead of each sitting on 'interim' baubles.

He hasnt fought a non-Brit since 2019. He has also now rematched 3 of his 4 British HW opponents. Would much rather he fought Parker or Kabayel next instead of this.

Kind of weird his last 7 fights will have all been against British fighters. Shows how strong the HW scene is here too tbf. Maybe we get Chisora II next. :lol1: Also shows how weak the American heavyweight scene is. If Wilder got some wins that could have been a possibility but he didn't. Other than that who did they have to offer, Hunter and Anderson i can think of and they would probably lose to the gatekeeper Chisora

Kind of weird his last 7 fights will have all been against British fighters. Shows how strong the HW scene is here too tbf. Maybe we get Chisora II next. :lol1: Bit of both really. How can there not be a single viable American heavy? Yeah just give it Del Boy, lol. I suppose Wardley another opponent. All get smashed like. We could provide enough opponents for him to apply for residency anyway. Arise Sir Usyk.