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Isn't it funny...
Isn't it funny how fickle the boxing fan community is? There is just so much inconsistency and knocking down any fighter who loses that must be terrible if they lose a fight - in this case to absolutely elite opposition.
AJ has his vulnerabilities and weaknesses, as most fighters do, but yesterday night wasn't really anything linked to what we have seen before with the Ruiz loss. Clearly, AJ doesn't like being hit, and he has a shaky beard, but for one - let's not make out Ruiz to be some journeyman because he looks like a fat bag of sht - the guy has legitimately fast hands, decent power and solid technique. Could certainly compete with other contenders in previous eras for sure, and with some of those upset-winners over former champs of the likes of Rahman etc. In that fight, AJ got careless and on the verge of victory let it go by shipping a huge shot - could have happened to anyone.
But the most funny thing is all of the people who said beforehand that this was going to be an easy fight for AJ, purely off the rationale that he is 'so much bigger and stronger and more powerful', a 'good big man always beats a good smaller man' and etc, yet they neglect to take into account Usyk is exactly the same size as Ali was - same reach, same height, and the vast majority of fans back former greats like Ali (who are far smaller than today's biggest heavies) to beat guys like AJ with ease in mythical matchups.
AJ lost because quite simply he isn't as great a BOXER as Usyk is, on account of having less experience. AJ has been manufactured, whereas Usyk has developed from a young age to a point where he has mastered his craft and it doesn't fail him under pressure - when it begins to be about instinct and muscle memory, unlike Joshua's loss of poise once he starts getting hit. This is what we saw yesterday - AJ tried something which was never going to work.
Anyone that has seen my posts over the last decade will remember I've always backed Usyk to show his greatness amongst all the doubters and nay-sayers and become the champ at both cruiser and heavy, but I guess now if he does seemingly the unthinkable and beats Fury for undisputed - will Fury suddenly also become a hype job bum who lost to a 'small pumped up cruiserweight'?
Is AJ as great as some proclaimed him to be? Probably not.
But losing to Usyk doesn't make him a bum suddenly - some just need to accept that Usyk is a future great, and if you don't believe it now - he will keep on proving it moving forward.
And finally - yes, a good big man beats a good smaller man. But - a good big man loses to an exceptional smaller man.
Discuss
AJ has his vulnerabilities and weaknesses, as most fighters do, but yesterday night wasn't really anything linked to what we have seen before with the Ruiz loss. Clearly, AJ doesn't like being hit, and he has a shaky beard, but for one - let's not make out Ruiz to be some journeyman because he looks like a fat bag of sht - the guy has legitimately fast hands, decent power and solid technique. Could certainly compete with other contenders in previous eras for sure, and with some of those upset-winners over former champs of the likes of Rahman etc. In that fight, AJ got careless and on the verge of victory let it go by shipping a huge shot - could have happened to anyone.
But the most funny thing is all of the people who said beforehand that this was going to be an easy fight for AJ, purely off the rationale that he is 'so much bigger and stronger and more powerful', a 'good big man always beats a good smaller man' and etc, yet they neglect to take into account Usyk is exactly the same size as Ali was - same reach, same height, and the vast majority of fans back former greats like Ali (who are far smaller than today's biggest heavies) to beat guys like AJ with ease in mythical matchups.
AJ lost because quite simply he isn't as great a BOXER as Usyk is, on account of having less experience. AJ has been manufactured, whereas Usyk has developed from a young age to a point where he has mastered his craft and it doesn't fail him under pressure - when it begins to be about instinct and muscle memory, unlike Joshua's loss of poise once he starts getting hit. This is what we saw yesterday - AJ tried something which was never going to work.
Anyone that has seen my posts over the last decade will remember I've always backed Usyk to show his greatness amongst all the doubters and nay-sayers and become the champ at both cruiser and heavy, but I guess now if he does seemingly the unthinkable and beats Fury for undisputed - will Fury suddenly also become a hype job bum who lost to a 'small pumped up cruiserweight'?
Is AJ as great as some proclaimed him to be? Probably not.
But losing to Usyk doesn't make him a bum suddenly - some just need to accept that Usyk is a future great, and if you don't believe it now - he will keep on proving it moving forward.
And finally - yes, a good big man beats a good smaller man. But - a good big man loses to an exceptional smaller man.
Discuss
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