Comments Thread For: Anthony Joshua vs. Oleksandr Usyk Official, September 25 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

[Toffee]

Some arent excited because its not a very unpredictable fight.

So what's your prediction? If you're predicting that AJ just smashes Usyk then you must rate AJ pretty highly.

I'm a fan of AJ. I think he's the one who brought heavyweight boxing back and the only one genuinely trying to unify the belts and leave a legacy. Yet I still see this as a very tough fight to call. Usyk will give Joshua a tough time.

[REDEEMER]

So to gain 'any credibility' in your eyes he just needs to beat the entire heavyweight division one after the other.

That's all? It's a bloody high standard just to gain 'any credibility'.

Some of these posters are real zany , one champ doesn’t have to defend one title fight the other has to defend the entire division to gain credibility?

[FinlandsFinest]

So what's your prediction? If you're predicting that AJ just smashes Usyk then you must rate AJ pretty highly.

I'm a fan of AJ. I think he's the one who brought heavyweight boxing back and the only one genuinely trying to unify the belts and leave a legacy. Yet I still see this as a very tough fight to call. Usyk will give Joshua a tough time.

I see AJ winning one way or another.

Even if Usyk outboxes him for 12 rounds AJ will get the decision anyway cause boxing cashcow (Just like 'Nelo etc.)

AJ can only be beaten by stoppage, and I dont believe Usyk has the power to do so.

[thetruthteller]

Maybe AJ will fake Covid to get out of the fight. Then be seen less than a week later at a car show and casino. And maybe the ticket sales will be so low they will have to push the fight back a few months...nahh, it'll be a sellout within hours and the fight will go through as planned. Fury was fat with a spare tire around his waist 2 weeks before the fight. Celebrating and partying for over a year before getting wrecked by sparring partners. AJ fought last fall and has been is shape, ready to go like a true pro and champion should be. And if you want to start seeing the difference between AJ, Fury and Wilder, then start right there.

[Tecnoworld]

Everyone goes on about Fury and Wilder but Usyk is a true elite fighter and in the P4P list and if AJ can win I hope he gets the recognition he deserves. In terms of achievement I believe Usyk is the bigger fight over the other two

While I still think a perfectly tuned Fury is the best of the division, I also think Usyk is more reliable and still very very skilled technically. His size disadvantage can even be of some use against aj, as it was for Ruiz.

I personally hope usyk wins since for me he's a better boxer than aj.

[landotter]

Looking forward to this. I think AJ can win but it's a tough one. I'm not getting the attitude of many that AJ wins easy. When Usyk first mentioned wanting to fight AJ people said AJ had little chance and now Usyk is being dismissed. However consider this. Usyk has been a lot less active as a heavyweight and has also had shoulder problems to deal with, so his 2 performances at the weight would naturally be less. Also he's going from fighting top tier cruisers with lots to achieve to just ticking over against lesser opponents at heavy and he's not even got the Buzz of coming out as a champ in those fights. So it stands to reason he is most likely going through the motions in those fights. So I for one am not being lulled into a false sense of security thinking that Usyk isn't the same fighter. He's going to be truly motivated for this and I see him giving AJ plenty to think about. But AJs skills are underrated at times and I feel he can win. It's a great fight and I can't wait for it.

I so agree with everything you typed. There is zero way Joshua should not be the favorite. I think any level headed boxing fan can say that. Joshua is underrated as a ring general. Because he is a tad mechanical, people feel he is not as good as he is.

But this is career defining for Usyk. Everything he has accomplished as a CW would pale in comparison to earning the HW belts in this fight. Usyk will be focused and ready. It will be his best, and the best from Usyk is historically freaking good.

Not sure what Usyk's plan will be, but it will not be to lay back and try not to lose. He will come to win because that is who he is. If he gets the victory, it will be because he scored early and often and outworked Joshua. If he loses, it will be because he TRIED to outwork Joshua, failed, and got laid out. That makes this a fun fight.

[boxinglife8]

Brave decision by AJ to fight at Spurs stadium as usually anybody using the home dressing room there chokes when things get difficult

If he wins it will be the first silver title there lol

[billeau2]

usyk looks great. Def in beast mode. If Usyk gained this muscle so he could be more physical with Joshua, I am changing my prediction and going with Usyk. Usyk looked awful at heavyweight, moved in straight lines, held his chin high, etc... then I watched him at cruiser, hardly recognized him as the same guy. He used angles, fought off front and back leg, threw all punches, etc... I then came to the conclusion that everything for Usyk starts with him being able to physically impose himself on his opponent.

Obviously he went to heavyweight and decided he could not do that, and performed abysmally against Chisora. I see what he is doing here. He is getting strong as he can so he can impose himself on Joshua. I know Joshua is stronger, but I still think Usyk could be succesful pushing him around at times, especially if Joshua tires...

I think Usyk wins this! I had thought Joshua would win.

[The plunger man]

But then I remember comments like these.

I think its **** like this which ends up souring a lot of more impartial boxing fans to certain fan favourites.

I suggest you read the comment I replied to....just stating facts.
joshua is defending his belts against the top mandatory and because fury walked away from a career highest purse with Joshua.
now.
No poster can say anything about Joshua not defending his belts because once gain he takes on the next best challenge....champions do that and they don’t mKe fake covid excuses do they

[PunchMeIDareYou]

Once again AJ is ducking top competition: Fury, Wilder, Ortiz, Ruiz, etc.