Some criticism of Usyk - from a fan

I’m a Usyk fan, but I’ve got a criticism I want to put out there. Usyk is a clear ATG, one of the best to ever do it, but I think he’s stayed on past the point he should have retired, and for the wrong reasons. He’s obviously nowhere near as good as he was, but that’s not really my criticism. My issue is with his motivation. He’s said many times that he doesn’t have motivation, just discipline. I believe him when he says it, but I really think you need both. Discipline alone might not be enough for the mindset this sport demands, and I think we saw that last night. I just watched his interview he did today and he said something along the lines of “this is a job now.” And listed other “more important” things in his life. So basically, he achieved everything he could after beating Fury the second time, then got one last burst of motivation to KO Dubois as the cherry on top. After that, all that’s left is discipline and money. Rico fight was purely that. I saw the same thing happen to Golovkin, though in his case it was even more obvious. Once he lost the second Canelo fight, he realised he should just see out his career earning as much as possible and treat it purely as a job, which is exactly what he did. He split with Abel, stayed good enough to beat who he needed to in order to get to the third Canelo fight, didn’t even look properly invested to win in that fight, but was clearly delighted to land that retirement payday. To me it looks like something similar might be happening with Usyk. He split with Krassyuk, didn’t retire, and is obviously taking these fights for different reasons than when he fought Fury, AJ, and everyone before. It’s a shame, because he’s now chipping away at what is without doubt one of the most impressive careers the sport has ever seen. This is also why I respect Crawford’s decision so much - he basically left millions on the table. Maybe it’s also tied to the fact that it takes longer for non-Western fighters to break into the big market, so it’s harder to walk away once the big money finally arrives late in their careers. I hope Usyk doesn’t stay on for more than one more fight (two at the absolute max). I really hope he doesn’t waste time fighting Fury - what the hell would even be the point? He should fight Agit (give the man a proper chance) and/or rematch Rico to clean up the mess of the last fight. I hope that’s the route he takes, but we’ll see.

Comments (16)

The biggest criticism I have of Usyk, is that he didn’t give Rico his well deserved props. He outboxed Usyk at his own game, constantly feinting, moving, changing levels and throwing and landing lots of punches. Usyk just tried to play it off like he was carrying him, when he was actually getting pieced up at times. Feel like that showed he’s not quite so humble in almost defeat. I haven’t seen that at all. He was very much giving Rico his props. Ade was asking him what was wrong, etc. and he kept saying Rico is a great fighter. He also went to his corner, and highly praised Peter. Not sure what else he could have done.

1w ago

Haka

The biggest criticism I have of Usyk, is that he didn’t give Rico his well deserved props. He outboxed Usyk at his own game, constantly feinting, moving, changing levels and throwing and landing lots of punches. Usyk just tried to play it off like he was carrying him, when he was actually getting pieced up at times. Feel like that showed he’s not quite so humble in almost defeat. He was giving his props but then Kabayel made his unwanted appearance disturbing the moment.

1w ago

Butt_stuff

1w ago

PRINCEKOOL(edited)

In a few months time, nobody will care about this performance 'and? At least he decked Rico Verhoeven, and forced a stoppage'. But? I agree that it was not a great performance from Oleksandr Uysk 'and he clearly was not in his best condition'. I believe even if Oleksandr Uysk was a tad out of condition, he should be good enough 'to beat an career kick boxer and novice professional boxer like Verhoeven. But this clearly was not the case'. Note: Oleksandr Uysk is a great fighter 'but he has a small performance window i.e. if an attribute is just a bit off, then his entire game can be decreased dramatically'. Whereas fighters such as Muhammad Ali, Tyson Fury, Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, we have seen those fighters out of condition 'and they were still able to beat World level fighters. And not by scoring controversial stoppages'. Mike Tyson was not in optimal condition vs. Andrew Golota and Francis Botha 'but he still beat both fighters, near enough at the peak of their game'. To conclude: Oleksandr Uysk is the premier heavyweight Champion of the world, if he wants to carry on fighting 'in my opinion he has to rematch Rico Verhoeven. It is plain and simple. There is no way he can behave similarly to how Tyson Fury did when he was beaten by Francis Ngannou'. Anthony Joshua had to step up and beat the greatest existential crisis the heavyweight divisions and boxing had faced in the 21st century 'and he did! He obliterated Francis Ngannou inside 2 rounds'. But I rate Oleksandr Uysk differently as a fighter compared to Tyson Fury 'and I expect that he would want to avenge his under par performance himself vs. Rico Verhoeven'. If Tyson Fury avoids fighting Anthony Joshua 'which is not inconceivable even at this stage of their careers, and apparently with the fight agreed'. There is another fight which would well and truly, shy rocket Anthony Joshua's career 'and universal perception again. If Anthony Joshua could obliterate Rico Verhoven, then this would give him masses of momentum in his career' etc.

1w ago

Haka

True. He is by far one of the best athletes out there if nothing else. I am so impressed by his stamina. He is a real giant, but his gas tank is better than Fury’s for example. I have no doubt he would beat likes of Wilder, Chisora, Whyte, Joyce. He would abosutly demolish Makhmudov. He doesn’t beat Dubois, Itauma (obviously), and probably not Fury or AJ either, as those are big man that are way more skillful. None of them have any idea what they are getting into Rico is built different.

1w ago

SouthpaRight

I think Golovkin was already past his best when he got a proper chance. Sturm in Germany took 5-6 years of his prime years. Once he moved to the US, it took so long for him to get any big names. I don’t think he would ever beat Ward at 168, but it would be an interesting fight when Golovkin was close to the peak of his powers. gennady was technical mastery and is highly regarded by boxing people whether it be fellow Soviet fighters or western box fans

1w ago

Simurgh

prefer Oleksandr because he took risks gennady was risk averse camping out in a lacking 160 only great opponent being a smaller guy moving up Saul Santos I think Golovkin was already past his best when he got a proper chance. Sturm in Germany took 5-6 years of his prime years. Once he moved to the US, it took so long for him to get any big names. I don’t think he would ever beat Ward at 168, but it would be an interesting fight when Golovkin was close to the peak of his powers.

1w ago

SouthpaRight

That’s what I meant by Usyk not being as bothered by his image in the Western world, compared to someone like Wlad and obviously Fury. I’d actually compare Usyk to Golovkin. Both had to do certain things to break into that market, both are phenomenal fighters, but ultimately, once it’s all said and done, I think they care more about how their own local people perceive them. I might be wrong, it’s just my impression of different personalities. prefer Oleksandr because he took risks gennady was risk averse camping out in a lacking 160 only great opponent being a smaller guy moving up Saul Santos

1w ago

Simurgh(edited)

Rico is no easy fight for anybody especially the suprise Rico that showed up last night who had ATG legs, ATG conditioning, ATG strength, ATG resolve. True. He is by far one of the best athletes out there if nothing else. I am so impressed by his stamina. He is a real giant, but his gas tank is better than Fury’s for example. I have no doubt he would beat likes of Wilder, Chisora, Whyte, Joyce. He would abosutly demolish Makhmudov. He doesn’t beat Dubois, Itauma (obviously), and probably not Fury or AJ either, as those are big man that are way more skillful.

1w ago

Haka

Rico is no easy fight for anybody especially the suprise Rico that showed up last night who had ATG legs, ATG conditioning, ATG strength, ATG resolve.

1w ago

Simurgh

1w ago

SouthpaRight

By the world, I meant Western World. Usyk seems like a guy who isn’t really invested in Western culture, the activities, the spotlight, any of it. To me he looks happiest around his own people and his family. Complete opposite to someone like Fury, who I think only returned because he couldn’t stand the focus being off him and because he couldn’t bear not being able to claim he’s the best ever. Very different to for example Wlad too, which is a probably a better comparison. In a way, I believe Usyk was perceived as a support act for Lomachekno for a long time and is/was comfortable with that. I think Usyk couldn’t care less if he is on the p2p list or not. ukraine has historically been an auxiliary at the edges of civilizational country Russia of the East Wlad is very western passing and was trained by them too But before that he fought more like a western mainland euroid with the basic upright stance and 1-2 Oleksandr is this free flowing nomadic cossack from the Rus'

1w ago

Simurgh(edited)

Thou just made Oleksandr sound autistic. By the world, I meant Western World. Usyk seems like a guy who isn’t really invested in Western culture, the activities, the spotlight, any of it. To me he looks happiest around his own people and his family. Complete opposite to someone like Fury, who I think only returned because he couldn’t stand the focus being off him and because he couldn’t bear not being able to claim he’s the best ever. Very different to for example Wlad too, which is a probably a better comparison. In a way, I believe Usyk was perceived as a support act for Lomachekno for a long time and is/was comfortable with that. I think Usyk couldn’t care less if he is on the p2p list or not.

1w ago

SouthpaRight(edited)

To be fair, everybody was (and is) pushing him to retire. That’s the sole reason he split with Krassyuk, which seemed very strange at the time, but now makes perfect sense. Krassyuk is a very honest guy, and he was against Usyk carrying on after the second Fury fight, which honestly was the best time to walk away. Then he got another moment, an even better one, after he silenced Don Charles and co. with the legendary “don’t push the horses,” sitting clearly as the p4p number one. Shame he didn’t walk away then. But I think Usyk is the kind of guy who doesn’t really grasp how he’s perceived in the world, and the fact that there’s Turki throwing millions and millions around doesn’t help. Unless he’s got some greater plan he needs the money for, he should really walk away. Is it already 5 mins too late (2nd Fury fight would be 30 mins too early), I don’t know. I think he can still make it almost intact if he fights Agit, beats him and go away. Forget about the 4th undisputed - he really doesn’t need it. And sure as hell he doesn’t need the 3rd Fury fight. Do not underestimate the materialism of ukrainie culture. ukrainies overcompensate for the trauma from Soviet Shortages + have access to europe to experience wasteful western excess Thou just made Oleksandr sound autistic.

1w ago

Simurgh(edited)

1w ago

SouthpaRight

Boxing 101 don't ever talk about retirement out loud it weakens the mind

1w ago