Where did this narrative that Usyk was some top tier heavyweight come from

[_Rexy_]

Yup, that's true too. I was trying to give the anti-usyl crowd something but I've got nothing.

That said, right off the top of my head, Joshua.

Joshua doesn’t have the Champ. I’m out right now so don’t have the rankings in front of me, but what’s the highest scalp he has? 4? Which I assume is Whyte?

[billeau2]

Usyk hurt Chisora, Parker stunned him only once and late when Chisora was winding more and Parker shouldn’t have even won the fight . Usyk sets up punches better then Haye by far and sneaks them so being a big puncher isn’t even real ,the shots he gets guys with are ones he sneaks in going for the power shots . Why does Usyk have to prove himself and we still have Parker a ranked top guy who every knows isn’t the boxer Usyk is ? What does Usyk have to prove to be considered a legit heavyweight ?

I don't think Usyk hurt Chisora much...But no need to debate, its irrelevant... Many times cruisers hurt, embarrassed heavy weights, and succumbed to superior punch of the heavyweight. Some of these were close: Louis against Conn, Marciano against Moore, but USyk did not hurt Chisora like that.

Did you read the post? I never said Usyk was inferior, only that he does not have the punch... Yes Usyk sets shots up better than Haye, so?

Seriously? lol. What does Parker have to do with usyk? Are you triangling Parker and Usyk with Chisora?

What Usyk has to do is fight a top heavyweight, a big strong heavyweight. Thats what he has to do.

[Marchegiano]

Joshua doesn’t have the Champ. I’m out right now so don’t have the rankings in front of me, but what’s the highest scalp he has? 4? Which I assume is Whyte?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to bat for Martin, Parker, or even Ruiz, but, they are all former champions and all still ranked in the top tens, then Pov, Whyte, and Pulev all still lingering about

Ring alone Josh has Pov, Whyte, Parker, and Ruiz all still active.

But also we both forgot about Mchunu for Usyk.

Far as Ring champion instead of former, that's both unfair to Joshua and literally the title I respect least so...I do think you are a fool if you believe there was ever a time when Ring ratings and their promo belt were not for sale, but also there was a period when Fury was retired and Joshua was dominant when Ring still refused to give Josh the belt. Probably because Eddie didn't buy it.

They kept Fury active in their ratings the entire time Fury was retired which made damn sure Joshua couldn't possibly be Ring champion even if he had fought Wilder because far as Ring's concerned that's 2 vs 3 not 1 vs 2....even though Fury was retired for years, plural.

[_Rexy_]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to bat for Martin, Parker, or even Ruiz, but, they are all former champions and all still ranked in the top tens, then Pov, Whyte, and Pulev all still lingering about

Ring alone Josh has Pov, Whyte, Parker, and Ruiz all still active.

But also we both forgot about Mchunu for Usyk.

Far as Ring champion instead of former, that's both unfair to Joshua and literally the title I respect least so...I do think you are a fool if you believe there was ever a time when Ring ratings and their promo belt were not for sale, but also there was a period when Fury was retired and Joshua was dominant when Ring still refused to give Josh the belt. Probably because Eddie didn't buy it.

They kept Fury active in their ratings the entire time Fury was retired which made damn sure Joshua couldn't possibly be Ring champion even if he had fought Wilder because far as Ring's concerned that's 2 vs 3 not 1 vs 2....even though Fury was retired for years, plural.

I mentioned Mchunu. He's #4 on Ring's ratings. Pulev is still ranked? jesus. He actually hadn't been ranked for a year before the Joshua fight, then they ****ing ranked him after he fought Rydell Booker

we can use TBRB though. Those are primarily my "go to" rankings

Ring didn't give Joshua a belt when Fury was retired for two reasons. Fury had the belt until he was stripped 2 years into his layoff, then Joshua would have had to fight the #2 guy in the division (Wilder) Fury also claimed he wasn't retired, and was making a comeback. The ironic thing was they stripped him of the title a few months before his actual comeback because it took too long

[Marchegiano]

I mentioned Mchunu. He's #4 on Ring's ratings. Pulev is still ranked? jesus. He actually hadn't been ranked for a year before the Joshua fight, then they ****ing ranked him after he fought Rydell Booker

we can use TBRB though. Those are primarily my "go to" rankings

Ring didn't give Joshua a belt when Fury was retired for two reasons. Fury had the belt until he was stripped 2 years into his layoff, then Joshua would have had to fight the #2 guy in the division (Wilder) Fury also claimed he wasn't retired, and was making a comeback. The ironic thing was they stripped him of the title a few months before his actual comeback because it took too long

There was never a time when Fury wasn't champion or 1 or 2.

[IronDanHamza]

How has it not? Hunter is a top ten Heavyweight right now, Breidis is the consensus #1 Cruiserweight, and Chisora just beat Parker on a majority of fans scorecards.

not to mention a few years ago people were saying Tony Bellew was the greatest Cruiserweight of all time

Literally no one said Tony Bellew was the greatest Crusierweight of all time.

Literally not a single person.

[_Rexy_]

There was never a time when Fury wasn't champion or 1 or 2.

There was about four-six months when the C was vacant, and Joshua/Wilder were 1/2

[billeau2]

He certainly hasn’t looked great since moving up

Due to the size of HW today, it’s a much different jump from CW to HW than it was 20 years ago.

he was a brilliant cruiserweight but he got manhandled at times by Chisora. His skill edged him the fight in the end but that’s against a guy with plenty of losses.

when you look at how Fury was able to bully Chisora, not just skill but physically too, you wonder how Usyk is going to handle an even bigger guy than Chisora.

his skill will still make him victorious over decent heavyweights though. But he has to improve on that Chisora fight if he’s going to compete with the bigger and better heavyweight.

I don't get why this (the bolded) is so complicated, Great post. people are comparing Haye to usyk now like this is the issue. Usyk is a better fighter by far. If you watch tapes of Usyk at cruiser he is phenomenal. He moves his head, he adjusts in the ring, can throw all punches... One of the best I have seen. BUT he also depends on being physical with his opponent and he does not have a big punch. Haye is not a phenomenal fighter but a world class puncher, who like Wilder has learned to stay away from the opponent (ambush fighter), threaten the opponent with the punch, and consequently use the big punch, which for Haye was one of the strongest.

You can watch what Usyk did to fight up, and it isn't pretty lol. He lost all head movement, emphasized the fighting lines at the expense of angles, and holds his head straight up to get maximum visibility.... I understand his problem, he cannot physically go in there and throw his weight around, slip punches, and turn his opponent into his shots...He cannot risk the precise body shots with the bigger boys. So what he has done is make the fighting lines longer, almost like an ambush fighter, but more like an ammy who is fighting off a line to hit with as many punches as one can... straight being the fastest way to the target.

I would implore anyone who thinks Haye is a better fighter than Usyk to watch Usyk at cruiser. Then watch him when he fights Bellew, who is an excellent fighter imo... to see what usyk has become.

[R-Hand Southpaw]

Parker Andy ruiz and chisora aren't title holders bud

Are they Top 10 guys?

And im pretty sure that despite not currently holding titles they are both former world title holders. If you're a top 10 guy im pretty damn sure you're one of the better guys in the division or is that not right?

Man yall ****ing ridiculous

[dan_cov]

How can we say the CW division was weak like Briedis & Gassiev ain't stone cold killers
Not to mention Hunter & the likes.

If anything it was strongest CW division of all-time.