Does Usyk really have a big chance against AJ?

[RENE JUNIOR]

Yea, he has a chance. It amazes me people really think he doesnt. Its like they have never watched boxing at all, its is the theatre of the unexpected. Joshua is the favorite for a reason obviously but he can be out boxed and he can be hurt, he is human. Joshua is still a developing fighter even at 31. He has had 23 fights and a short amateur career, he is not a grizzled veteran who has seen it all. I have alot of respect for AJ for the way he has pursued his career. He got in there early and has taken his lumps along with the accolades.

Very well said man.
I got AJ winning but you are totally right definitely.
May the best man win!!

[RENE JUNIOR]

Yeah I’m not actually sure the added weight will help him for those reasons. It naturally reduces mobility and stamina, which are two of his better assets at HW IMO.

The pace of the fight will be very important IMO, whoever controls that likely wins I reckon.

I kind of think Usyk will be on his bike during the fight and AJ will try catching him and will catch him nicely throughout the fight.

I can't wait to see how it plays out though!!

[RENE JUNIOR]

I agree.

I think Usyk has a chance, he is an elite fighter. I just disagree with the whole “Small Ruiz did it, Usyk can too.”

That reasoning is off. It’s like comparing apples and oranges.

Usyk can win due to a few reasons, but none of those reasons are that “Small Ruiz beat him.” Lol. Andy Ruiz is far from “small”. And height does not determine who is small/big.

Andy Ruiz of the AJ fight has almost 50lbs on Usyk. Lol, it’s just plain wrong to call Ruiz small. And to use Ruiz’s performance to say that’s why Usyk has a chance. It’s nuts. Usyk can very well pull it off. But it will not be because Ruiz was able to do it. It would be a totally different reason.

Facts', actually, whoever is using the narrative with Ruiz to accredit a chance for Usyk really don't know what they are talking about.
Ruiz and Usyk are WAY different fighters.
I got AJ winning quite well but we'll see man.

[RENE JUNIOR]

I don't think so.


Sunday morning we will all be saying "well, Usyk is a nice fighter but got beat up by the bigger (just as good) fighter, cest la vie"

I totally agree man.
I actually think Usyk can have some success, but.....

[RENE JUNIOR]

He definatley has a chance, a win for Usyk wouldn't even be as big an upset as Ruiz was.

I do think in order to win though he's going to need to fight a flawless fight, and Joshua will have to make tactical errors. He's reliant more on Joshua to lose the fight than him win it in my opinion.

If Joshua fights the way he should, he will win imo.

Well said man.

That's the issue here, I don't think Usyk can fight a flawless fight against AJ.
But we'll see. I got AJ winning quite convincingly

[RENE JUNIOR]

I am afraid Usyk has two chances of winning here - slim and none.

Usyk's put on weight did not look good at HW at all, and has the body structure of a CW with extra weight on. All these thing won't work for him but against him. He is skilled as we all know but Joshua is not unskilled. So, there are massive disadvantages for Usyk with no massive advantage.

I differ from a lot of posters here that this is a competitive fight. AJ vs Hrgovic or AJ vs Dubois or AJ vs Joyce will be more competitive than this one. Joshua is the massive favorite to win and, in my opinion, will win it easily by KO. I am saying this after looking at how Usyk looks and after his performance against Chisora. This fight is being hyped by Eddie to make it look very competitive and dangerous but it is not.

Very true!
I don't understand how people overemphasize about Usyk's skills but them SAME SKILLS have not translated to the HW division yet fully, only partially.
I got AJ winning

[Tatabanya]

you have to also realize that usyk is 34 years old. Joshua is 31, but Usyk is is the one moving up and giving up a weight advantage. I just think he gets ran through.

Sure, it may definitely happen.

But I also consider the fighter's mind. Usyk's seems to be stronger from that point of view. What happens if AJ is unable to annihilate Usyk early? That's my point of intrigue for tonight's fight.

Basically, tonight the secret will be revealed: is Joshua back - definitively - after the Ruiz loss, or will he fall again?

[-Kev-]

Facts', actually, whoever is using the narrative with Ruiz to accredit a chance for Usyk really don't know what they are talking about.
Ruiz and Usyk are WAY different fighters.
I got AJ winning quite well but we'll see man.

I definitely have AJ winning. Although I will admit I can’t come up with how (decision or stoppage). I want to lean towards stoppage. I just have not seen Usyk at the elite level of HW yet.

But you know one thing I noticed was Usyk’s aggressive chase of his title shot vs AJ. And he did not want any step aside money. He wanted AJ with the belt, not a vacant belt. It’s as if he knows something, like they see a flaw in AJ that they can 100% capitalize on and beat him.

You have fighters like Lopez aggressively going after Lomachenko. Pacquiao/Roach aggressively calling out DLH. Fans called them crazy for it, biting off more than they could chew. But then they won. I get the same vibe here with Usyk. I also get the same vibe with Porter going after Crawford hard.

It makes me wonder what Usyk and his team are seeing in AJ that made them go after him this hard. On the other hand they could just be chasing a career high payday and cash-out.

[SN!PER]

AJ, despite his longer reach, has looked predictable and kinda robotic stepping in with his jab, especially when he follows it with a big reaching right hand that throws him off balance. In this fight he has to break out of his old habits and pull some new weapons out of his arsenal.

If the rounds go on and Usyk begins to figure him out and find his rhythm, he can start timing him, landing pull counters, and frustrating AJ who will waste time and energy trying to catch up in the last 30 seconds of the rounds to impress the judges. Body shots from the early rounds, and then even more body shots in the second half of the fight to wear down AJ and sap his stamina.

AJ really has to stay disciplined, adjust, and maintain a control of distance. Don't wait for the perfect moment, stay busy, and mix it up with a variety of attacks. Whether it's left crosses, left hooks, body shots, and of course his infamous uppercut. Hurt Usyk early, keep him on the defense, and constantly second-guessing his next moves.

[ShoulderRoll]

I don't see it personally.

Usyk hasn't impressed in any of his heavyweight fights.