Usyk is too much of a coward to fight Kabayel

And good riddance. Come on, now, are you sure you won't miss the ridiculous outfits and outrageous claims of supremacy?

Laying waste to a fighter who's already wasted! What an accomplishment! :lol1: And good riddance.

It seems like fans are decreasing their expectations for Usyk due to his age, or are giving him extra grace due to his accomplishments. Usyk has set a high bar, and I understand it's difficult to continue to meet those expectations. We can respect Usyk's accomplishments, but dislike his opponent choice. If Wilder wants a shot at Usyk, then he should go through Kabayel or Wardley. Wilder will never fight either of those two at this point in his career. He'll take the L and a fat retirement check.

No, it was around the time Usyk was about to make his HW debut, towards the end of 2019. Wilder-Fury 2 was in February 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSNBywr6NZ4 https://www.boxingscene.com/articles/usyk-im-already-wilders-head-i-like-him-talking-about-me When you're right, you're right! I stand corrected, sir! :beerchug:

Still doesnt negate my point of fighting the names of the last 10 years lol. Hes laying waste to all them. Laying waste to a fighter who's already wasted! What an accomplishment! :lol1:

Usyk said he wanted Wilder after Fury had already dethroned him with a KO. While Wilder was prime and KOing everyone, Usk was fighting at CW. No, it was around the time Usyk was about to make his HW debut, towards the end of 2019. Wilder-Fury 2 was in February 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSNBywr6NZ4 https://www.boxingscene.com/articles/usyk-im-already-wilders-head-i-like-him-talking-about-me

Tell him that on the streets.

shitty bait

Name a HW champion in recent memory that had 5 straight defenses against top 3 opponents. Hard to think of one. Usyk has earned a gimme.

Usyk has been fighting for belts during the war and returned to Ukraine for about a month once in 2022 to help fight Russia. Soldiers convinced him that he could serve his country better as a boxing champion than a soldier, so he went back to boxing. At 39, I don't expect him to face all of the up-and-comers, but I also don't expect him to hold the belts hostage while he fights washed-up fighters like Wilder. Still doesnt negate my point of fighting the names of the last 10 years lol. Hes laying waste to all them.

Usyk wants to retire at 41. Next 2 years it'll be difficult for him to remain a respected champ without fighting Kabayel, Wardley and Itauma - assuming they keep on a winning trajectory and have this same hype around them. Usyk already proved he wasn't a coward - beat AJ, Fury and Dubois in a row. They're around the same level or better than Kabayel. But maybe his new found fame will change him, who knows. Kabayel sounds a little undisciplined though, he mentioned he was eating burgers and chips during his last camp which is usually the type of "i can eat whatever I like" mentality that belongs to generally less successful heavyweights like Martin Bakole, Dave Allen, Bermane Stiverne and, at the moment seemingly Lawrence Okolie.

Kabayel who?

Not to single out Usyk who has actually performed so much better than his predecessors in so far as taking the must fights. However, I don’t believe that any Champ ever “earns” the right to “soft”’defences or the right to dictate who he fights next, especially when it ignores due eligibilities otherwise. They fight so much less now with far more time to properly prepare for their next fight in between. Simply fight the best each and every time out or at least don’t allow a soft defence block a more deserving opportunity to a contender who might never get the chance again. Ali had some softies but they weren’t at the expense of other contenders - everyone who deserved it still got their shot. Likewise, notwithstanding Louis’ so called Bum of the Month (and many weren’t bums anyway), Joe still left no stone unturned in terms of facing his outstanding contenders otherwise. If Olek is looking to transition to retirement, get out now instead, don’t dribble it down and then disappear. And I say that as a Big Usyk fan but the Champ has to respect both the given title and the sport at large.

We'll have to see who he is fighting after Wilder to make that type of determination. He gets a volunteer defense so fair enough and then it should be either Fabio or Kabayel. I know Kabayel has a high motor and throws a lot of body punches (not so much in his last performance) However, Usyk is very light on his feet while throwing hard shots. I still lean towards Usyk.

^^^This right here. Maybe Usyk will retire after fighting Wilder. But if he doesn't, he shouldn't just sit on the belts or continue to fight people that he knows he'll beat. It seems like fans are decreasing their expectations for Usyk due to his age, or are giving him extra grace due to his accomplishments. Usyk has set a high bar, and I understand it's difficult to continue to meet those expectations. We can respect Usyk's accomplishments, but dislike his opponent choice. If Wilder wants a shot at Usyk, then he should go through Kabayel or Wardley.

Still doesnt negate my point. At this point, hes doing what's best for him while still dealing with the invasion of his country and all the family he has there. I criticize fighters a lot for taking soft touches when they show a pattern of it. But imo he hasn't had a pattern of that. And him being 39, hes getting up there in boxing age. At heavyweight, we all know father time is a lil more harsh Would've preferred he retire after becoming undisputed again but it is what it is. Im enjoying the ride Usyk has been fighting for belts during the war and returned to Ukraine for about a month once in 2022 to help fight Russia. Soldiers convinced him that he could serve his country better as a boxing champion than a soldier, so he went back to boxing. At 39, I don't expect him to face all of the up-and-comers, but I also don't expect him to hold the belts hostage while he fights washed-up fighters like Wilder.

Nah he’s wrapping up his career on a greatest hits of this era tour. If he doesn’t take on Kabayel, Wardley, other mandatories after Wilder time killer then he will be stripped one by one

Usyk wanted to fight Wilder 6 years ago, Wilder wasn't intererested. It was never going to happen while Wilder was in his prime, back then he was ducking almost all serious challenges. At least Usyk is consistent, he's wanted that fight for a long time. Usyk said he wanted Wilder after Fury had already dethroned him with a KO. While Wilder was prime and KOing everyone, Usk was fighting at CW.

As long as Usyk holds belts, there should be some expectations. I don't believe Usyk fears Kabayel, but he seems uninterested in defending his titles against relevant contenders right now. Usyk should just drop the WBC title like he did the WBO, so Kabayel and Okolie can fight for it. ^^^This right here. Maybe Usyk will retire after fighting Wilder. But if he doesn't, he shouldn't just sit on the belts or continue to fight people that he knows he'll beat.

As long as Usyk holds belts, there should be some expectations. I don't believe Usyk fears Kabayel, but he seems uninterested in defending his titles against relevant contenders right now. Usyk should just drop the WBC title like he did the WBO, so Kabayel and Okolie can fight for it.