Comments Thread For: Oleksandr Usyk's Plan to Drop Down to Cruiserweight Might Be Unwise

[PapaRoo]

But why then is he requesting IBF for an exception when he's planning to drop all the belts and move down to cruiserweight? I hate it when champions deliberately preventing other contenders to have their shot at the championship. Usyk should honour his IBF mandatory obligation or vacate the belt.

I think it's intended to be fair play to Fury so that the rematch is still for undisputed. If Usyk wins again, I would expect him to drop it, particularly if it's a rematch with Dubois or Joshua.

[PapaRoo]

I know bridgerweight is a joke now, but it could become relevant quickly with the right boxers and money.

If Usyk wants to fight smaller fighters, there are some good options that would be interesting. Opetaia has mentioned that move as a stepping stone to heavyweight, if Wilder gets some semblance of his prior self back; Torrez Jr perfect weight, obviously still young and unproven. Heck, Breidis gave Opetaia all he could handle. Rematch with Usyk for BW belt? I'd watch.

[Monty Fisto]

Lame or not, that's actually a good idea.

Usyk already weighs about 220 lbs naturally and he admitted in the interview that he doesn't like fighting the guys who are bigger than him.

It's not a good idea in any way.

It is totally to Usyk's advantage to play the small guy card, but the reality is that he is heavier than Foreman in his prime. In other words, he is a decent-sized heavyweight.

To fight at Bridgerweight would be for the king to beg for crumbs at the peasant's table.

If he is tired of doing whatever it takes to fight at HW, then he should retire, but I don't believe that for one second.

[HandsofIron]

It's not a good idea in any way.

It is totally to Usyk's advantage to play the small guy card, but the reality is that he is heavier than Foreman in his prime. In other words, he is a decent-sized heavyweight.

To fight at Bridgerweight would be for the king to beg for crumbs at the peasant's table.

If he is tired of doing whatever it takes to fight at HW, then he should retire, but I don't believe that for one second.

It's history making to be undisputed in a 3rd weight class for Usyk and he'll also bring shine to a fledgling weight class.

[Boxing56]

I'm more worried about him being Ruiz 2. Hes in a film with The a Rock in Hollywood which I hope doesn't affect his mindset for the rematch and distract him because it gets very cosy on those Hollywood sets. He will be facing a much more determined Tyson Fury.

[JakeTheBoxer]

If Usyk goes go CW and Beterbiev unified at LHW I can expect both of them to meet at CW

Beterbiev wanted it years ago but Eddie Hearn didn't respond and Beterbiev signed with Top Rank instead. This was around about 2018 when Artur stopped Callum Johnson.

Now, imagine this. Beterbiev loses to Bivol and moves up to cruiserweight. Usyk moves down and they fight and Beterbiev wins.

It is not that hard to imagine at all. Ramirez also lost to Bivol, but I am not so sure that other cruiserweights beat Ramirez now.

[TMLT87]

Wouldnt be a good idea. Its a less heralded division and any decline in speed and activity level will be more of an issue there than at HW. Considering hes proven he has the chin, strength and power to hang with big HWs theres no real reason for him to go back down.

[Toprope]

It's history making to be undisputed in a 3rd weight class for Usyk and he'll also bring shine to a fledgling weight class.

It's not a 3rd weight class...it's repeating in cruiser weight to undisputed

[SN!PER]

Beat Fury in the rematch, defend his belts a couple of times, and then retire at 40 years old as a wealthy ATG legend of boxing.

[PRINCEKOOL]

I am not sure why, Oleksandr Uysk would want to move back down into the Cruiserweight Division? Uysk is at the summit of the sport, at this point in time 'He is the Undisputed Heavyweight World Champion, he stands on top of the mountain. But now he wants to initiate a decent'.

No disrespect to Oleksandr Uysk, he is the most accomplished active fighter in the sport 'And pound for pound he has achieved the greatest feats of achievement.

But to me, this kind of talk? Appears like Uysk is wanting to tactically avoid the onslaught of attack 'Which is coming for him, within Heavyweight Division the longer he stays as a Champion there'.

Oleksandr Uysk right now as we speak, may be the Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion. But let me make this very clear? It was predominately Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua who before Uysk invaded the Division? Those were the three Heavyweight mountains who cleared out most of the Heavyweight Division, Anthony Joshua being the Heavyweight Champion who has fought the most top level Heavyweights.

Tyson Fury was the first fighter to inflict damage upon the Kiltschko occupation of the Heavyweight Division by beating Wladimir Kiltschko. 'And then 17 months later Anthony Joshua conclusively took the Heavyweight Division into a completely new dynasty. When he stepped up in his 19th professional fight, to battle the version of Wladimir Kiltschko who Tyson Fury should of fought in their scheduled rematch'.

On April 29th 2017, Wladimir Kiltschko vs Anthony Joshua was the greatest Heavyweight title fight of the past 25 years. Not only did Anthony Joshua beat Wladimir Kiltschko, he also stayed around at the summit and defended his titles conclusively taking the Heavyweight Division into a complete new dynasty.

Oleksandr Uysk's feats of achievement in the Heavyweight Division, are individually great. But tactically what he has effectively done is ambush the Heavyweight Division, at a opportune time. If he would of moved up into the Heavyweight Division just a few years earlier, his route to the winning his Undisputed titles would of been many times more difficult.

If Oleksandr Uysk has the abiity to envision his potential heavyweight future 'What will appear in front of him is Tyson Fury and potentially a third fight with Anthony Joshua'.

And certain folk in the boxing community may say things like? 'Oleksandr Uysk has already beaten Fury and Joshua, he does not need to fight them'.

You would be correct, yes Oleksandr Uysk has already beaten Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua twice.

But lets all be honest, Oleksandr Uysk has not put their lights out 'Uysk is not beating these Heavyweight mountains up, beyond doubt'.

When Evander Holyfield beat Mike Tyson 'Holyfield's win was conclusive, and beyond doubt. Evander Holyfield won by stoppage'.

When Lennox Lewis beat Mike Tyson 'Lewis's win was conclusive, and beyond doubt. Lennox Lewis won by knock-out'.

Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder, Oleksandr Uysk and Anthony Joshua 'Are all participating in the competition, to see who will be the last man standing of this Heavyweight era'.

And in my opinion, the last man standing of this era 'Is not going to be decided by a points victory win in a competitive fight. It is going to be decided by a more conclusive batte victory'.

Because that is exactly how this era began 'Anthony Joshua's victory over Wladimir Kiltschko, was conclusive beyond doubt. Joshua beat up and knocked out Kilstchko in the greatest Heavyweight title fight of the past 25 years. Wladimir Kiltschko was the last all-time great Heavyweight Champion, he was forced to retire after being beaten by Anthony Joshua'.

If we look back in history, the last man standing of every single Heavyweight era 'It was definitive that those fighters where the last standing great fighters of their generation. Because they had conclusively elevated themselves above every other fighter'.

Lennox Lewis was the last man standing from the late 80's and 90's Heavyweight era 'And Muhammad Ali was the last man standing from the 70's Heavyweight era'.

Nobody here can claim that Oleksandr Uysk as of today, is definitively the last man standing of this Heavyweight era 'That point is approaching, but the organic conclusion of this Heavyweight era has not been reached. The competition, the battle is for sure still on going'.

Note: If Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua 'Could all meet up together, at a undisclosed location. To discuss the Heavyweight Division, I believe the conversation would go like this'.

Upon meeting each other the fighters may be extremely hostile towards each other, they may even escalate into having a jostle. But after awhile I believe the fighters will begin to reflect upon their individual careers, and feats of achievement. And in those moments, Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua will start to embrace.

All three Heavyweight fighters, will suddenly realize that they are connected by nature and time itself 'As they have all been the three Heavyweight mountains of this era. They would all agree, that this has been their era'.

They would understand that somehow or someway, one of them have got to stop Oleksandr Uysk 'From becoming the last man standing of this era. Because historically it has not been Oleksandr Uysk's era, he has tactically ambushed the Heavyweight Division at a opportune time'.

I believe Oleksandr Uysk and his team know, that for long as Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are still standing 'They are going to be fighting. A points victory over them, in my opinion is not enough to deter them from believing that they can win the battle of this era and become the last man standing'.

Oleksandr Uysk has won individual fights at Heavyweight, but he has not won the battle of this era 'To see who will be the last man standing. That competition is still on going, History has not witnessed the organic conclusion of this Heavyweight era' etc.