No, I think it's completely fair to judge a fighter by ONE terrible performance.
One fight can define your career. That's how the boxing game works.
I imagine you're well versed enough to know how many times that's rang true in the history of the sport.
Let me put it into perspective.
Usyk accepted a fight with a 37 yr old kickboxer with 1 pro fight.
Everyone thought he would wash Rico. As he should, being the so called "P4P #1 or #2 boxer on the planet".
But Rico outboxed him for 7-9 rounds. That is insane.
That will put a STAIN on anyone's legacy FOREVER.
It doesn't dismiss all of his prior achievements.
But to say he was the best HW of all time is completely bogus.
There isn't a single person who believes that now.
He's maybe Top 15 of all time.
He is 39 years old.
Tyson - great fighter but most of his reputation comes from doing it all so young.
No, Moses isn't a close comparison age for age, but might well be when it comes to the full career which is a far more important measure of a fighter.
Still lots to find out about Moses. I actually thought this 'step up' against Franklin gave us more questions than answers, despite being a pretty impressive performance. The hands are seriously fast, the power is real, and he had the IQ to break down a fighter who doesn't give you anything for free, but I don't see great movement or defence. And his chin is completely untested, while his stamina actually looks suspect.
Right now, I think Usyk would completely expose him and it wouldn't even be close.
He isn't ready for Usyk,but I think he will comprehensively beat the likes of Hrgovic and Zhang.I don't see any need to rush him14 fights is nothing a few more bouts against maybe Bakole,Sanchez etc, are needed imo.
Ok, so let him fight Hrgovic or Kabayel next. both guys will fight him. enough with that slow moving nonsense.
He wanted the Hrgovic fight but Hrgovic signed to fight Dave Allen, a journeyman.
Itauma would be much too fast for the plodding Hrgovic ,imo.
Kabayel the mandatory challenger for Usyk , won't jeopardise his title shot by fighting Itauma,and who can blame him?
He looked out of shape and terribly sluggish in his last fight so he decides to come in even heavier? :rolleyes:
He looked pretty sharp at 249 when he took out Mckeown. I think he takes out Franklin before the halfway stage,Franklin is blubbery and has never beaten anyone worth talking about.
A bit of a **** stir atm with the Heavyweight division, which I think is unfair for Joseph Parker because he is more deserving of a title shot next against Usyk than Dubois.
Well, you know it; situations like these do appear given the current state it's in. I believe they are close to a confirmed deal that's soon to be announced for Usyk-Dubois II.
We have to ask the fans the real question, tho. Would you rather watch what?
Usyk v Parker.
He's had some good wins lately, BUT...
Zhang: 40, no gas tank, Kabayel stood in front of him and stopped him
Wilder: 40, shot, poleaxed by Zhang, nothing left
Bakole: 40 stone, fat, jet lag, schooled by that Nigerian bum
Fact is all 3 of parkers recent impressive wins have INSTANTLY aged horribly, and there's nothing to suggest he's any better of a fighter than got ko by Joe Joyce
I think he has improved,by how much we won't know until he meets one of the other top 3.
On one hand the opposition that Dubois has faced in his last 4 fights was impressive but in no way preparation for Usyks style.
On the other hand Usyk is closing in on 40, two years older than when they first met, to my eye he's getting slower in every fight with fury 2 being his worst performance imo.
Worth a few bucks on Dubois?
I think so, Dubois has improved and gained in confidence.
At his age Usyk can only deteriorate,and their first fight left a couple of questions unanswered for me.
The foul was border line imo and Usyk milked it,now nearly 40,he may have slowed down enough for Dubois to land enough big shots to get the win.
I shall wait to see what the odds are before deciding to have a bet.
I'd be interested to see Moses Itauma vs Kabayel. Jalolov in a big fight as well. The thing is a lot of the best heavyweights of recent years are past their best now. Fury, Wilder, Joshua. Then even the contenders of that age/era are ancient. Chisora, Zhang, Joyce, Whyte, tons more. Parker is 33, I think, but you could say he's as good as ever, but compare Joyce from the time he beat Parker, to Joyce now, and his decline is at least 50%. Fury has lost all of his speed and stamina, age, the Fury fights, and Malik Scott killed Wilder off, Joshua's confidence nose-dived after losses, and as I said, age as well. The old guard all need replacing at some point. Usyk will be gone in a year or two as well, so people need to step up. I like what I see of Moses. Very fast, powerful and very confident. Those tools are hard to deal with. Can he take a shot? I guess that's what we need to find out. Nash out - His Most Majestic Majesty
To throw 20 years old, 10 fight Itauma into a fight with Kabayel now would be criminal.Time is on his side,he needs seasoning against some decent opponents who will give him rounds not top 5 unbeaten contenders.
This is how greatness is accomplished. Nobody is interested in watching Moses get rounds, we want him in fights he could lose, otherwise, why are we watching? Kabayel, then if he wins Usyk. Then he can say "Boxing, completed it, mate." Get on! Nash out - His Most Majestic Majesty
That is how promising careers are ruined,overmatching.
Itauma had 22 amateur fights for a total of 44 rds,and 11 pro fights totaling 23 rds.
Kabayel has 26 pro fights and 131 rds. He has /holds the
NBAF title
WBC Interim
WBU NABO
Euro title
He's got skills. Question is, does he have the character?!
I'd love to see Joshua vs Miller, still.
If A.J. feels like he needs redemption - Here it is.
If Miller's in shape; I pick him. I think I always did.
Thirty six years old and what is Millers best win?
You know what bro? I retract the ***** points :lol1: I didn't expect a response to such an obvious trolling, but **** I'll return vibe and give you a proper response - no troll.
Shelly Finkel served as an advisor and manager to Wlad. Wlad who has no undisputed title. Wlad who has a piss poor resume. Wlad, who hadn't seen an L in over a decade. The heavy, heavy favorite.
You expect me to believe Shelly sacrificed the money he would have made on Wlad to protect Wilder because Shelly didn't believe in Wilder's power?
cutting through my former troll post for the bits that are true; you are filling in what you do not know with a default to blaming Wilder. Bet I can search your entire posting history and you never mentioned Shelly working for Wlad.
Likewise, the next man on your list is a **** name to mention for the same kind of if you actually paid attention rather than claiming you did then you'd know Pov's got an entire career built on avoiding title contention and defeating top tens AFTER they've already ran through the ratings, fought and won an elim, and then failed their title shot. Wilder has **** all 0 to do with Pov making title contention by 08 and still not seeing a champion until 14. But sure, it was Shelly not believing in Wilder. Not Pov, not the state sanctioned doping, and nothing to do with an entire career of avoiding not just names but positions. But you knew that right? That's why you named Pov, not Andy, or Whyte, right?
BET, I can go through your entire posting history and never once have you acknowledged Povetkin was a career long title avoider who publicly asked for the delays to the Wilder fight during presser for his ****ty Silver title because he wanted "time to defend the wbc silver" only to fail a series of drug tests along with thousands of other Russian athletes.
Joshua? Bro they had a money fight. Don't be a phag. They didn't come to terms, it's as much Joshua's fault as it is Wilder's and anyone who takes a side in a money fight without having any investment isn't bringing rationale to the argument. Like, by definition of the juxtaposition. What is your opinion of MS taking Bethesda? OH? all of a sudden you're not a doctorate is biz? No ****. STFU and call them both kunts for being too kunty to get the fight.
Usyk? Wilder wasn't on Usyk's radar you jamooley. That's crazy and goes hand-in-hand with the motiff. TF is you talking Usyk for?
These examples scream at me you dunno **** but you got strong emotions about it anyway. Strong enough to try to have a rational convo with a man who award you "b i t c h points" FFS.
That told him!
Can make a living at the British level for days, even he knows at the World title level he’d be unable to make the grade. Whyte would definitely beat him, Joshua would be a good pay day, Zhang would beat him. But Usyk would destroy him and to be fair he knows it. Likeable guy, hope he earns and gets out with a nest egg.
I wouldn't be too sure Whyte beats him at this stage of his career,and Zhang is now at the veteran stage,when the wheels are likely to fall off at any time.
Zhang couldn't take Kabayel's body shots,could he take Wardley's?
Wardley isn't a world beater,his skills are rudimentary,but he has decent power , a good chin,and heart andthat can often give you a helluva ride in the heavyweight division.