Comments Thread For: The Beltline: Maybe now is a good time for Oleksandr Usyk to finally say ?no?

[landotter]

I will say what I have said since the rematch with Fury: Usyk gives up too much size and natural power to other HWs to stay undefeated forever. He needs to be perfect in his fights to win, and gets his KOs or hurts his opponents by accumulated punishment. He is effective over a period of the fight and hurts his opponents by clean multiple punches. Most of his opponents own 1 punch KO power, so all he needs to do is lose focus once at the wrong time. So from the outside, there is a very solid set of reasoning for Usyk to retire soon, But has anyone seen him in the build-up to this rematch? He is energetic, poking fun at everyone around him, and laughing between all the hard work and prep. I do not know how long Usyk wants to continue, but there is zero chance he retires if he defeats DuBois. The man is having to much fun.

[NihonJim]

I would love for Usyk to retire after Dubois fight. He has nothing left to prove. Next fights if he decides to take are more risks with no gain. From business point of view, there is no way Usyk can be bigger than Joshua, Fury, or even Wilder. Simply because UK & US have bigger audience. Same case like GGG would never be bigger than Canelo, so like it or not on GGG - Canelo 1 if it was flip of a coin, simply the privilege was given to Canelo who is younger and have much bigger audience. As for Usyk, sporting wise, he has achieved everything and can do much bigger things in life than money earned from boxing

This "Usyk has nothing to prove" narrative is so weird to me

We have a guy who causes him stylistic issues in his prime RIGHT NOW in Kabayel, and Itauma is one of two wins away and has by far the fastest hands Usyk would have ever seen.

Usyk isn't that old and there's very interesting fights right there for him.

People are DESPERATE for him to retire so he doesn't risk a loss.

[Light_Speed]

This "Usyk has nothing to prove" narrative is so weird to me

We have a guy who causes him stylistic issues in his prime RIGHT NOW in Kabayel, and Itauma is one of two wins away and has by far the fastest hands Usyk would have ever seen.

Usyk isn't that old and there's very interesting fights right there for him.

People are DESPERATE for him to retire so he doesn't risk a loss.

What's weird about it? He won everything there is to win in boxing. If he's gonna stick around then yeah I'd love to see him fight Parker and Kabayel, but he's already in the HOF. Beating Moses coming off a victory of Whyte wouldn't mean much.

[NihonJim]

What's weird about it? He won everything there is to win in boxing. If he's gonna stick around then yeah I'd love to see him fight Parker and Kabayel, but he's already in the HOF. Beating Moses coming off a victory of Whyte wouldn't mean much.

It's weird that people are desperate for this guy to get out the door quickly and not risk a loss.

His heavyweight resume is past prime AJ and shot Fury, he needs more depth on his resume

[hugh grant]

This "Usyk has nothing to prove" narrative is so weird to me

We have a guy who causes him stylistic issues in his prime RIGHT NOW in Kabayel, and Itauma is one of two wins away and has by far the fastest hands Usyk would have ever seen.

Usyk isn't that old and there's very interesting fights right there for him.

People are DESPERATE for him to retire so he doesn't risk a loss.

Usyk has nothing to prove in fighting Josh and fury again as he best then already. But usyk has lots to prove in showing he can beat kabayel, Parker and itauma. We don't know if fury could best kabayel too.
So it's not like just because usyk can beat fury, usyk can beat kabayel too. Kabayel, parker, itauma might all best fury and josh

[NihonJim]

Usyk has nothing to prove in fighting Josh and fury again as he best then already. But usyk has lots to prove in showing he can beat kabayel, Parker and itauma. We don't know if fury could best kabayel too.
So it's not like just because usyk can beat fury, usyk can beat kabayel too. Kabayel, parker, itauma might all best fury and josh

Yes I 100% agree.

The heavyweight division has revolved around Usyk, Fury, AJ and Wilder because of name value and the guys you mentioned aren't getting a bite of the cherry for that reason.

We also have a situation right now where the top contenders are all taking each other out, boxing is rock paper scissors and a contender that could beat Usyk could lose to another contender.

I don't know why people keep wanting him to retire, if he does and Kabayel or Itauma go on to dominate people will be asking the question, Usyk is still healthy, he's not that old, he's still enjoying fighting, let's see some fresh matchups.

[hugh grant]

Yes I 100% agree.

The heavyweight division has revolved around Usyk, Fury, AJ and Wilder because of name value and the guys you mentioned aren't getting a bite of the cherry for that reason.

We also have a situation right now where the top contenders are all taking each other out, boxing is rock paper scissors and a contender that could beat Usyk could lose to another contender.

I don't know why people keep wanting him to retire, if he does and Kabayel or Itauma go on to dominate people will be asking the question, Usyk is still healthy, he's not that old, he's still enjoying fighting, let's see some fresh matchups.

Usyk is pretty old. But if he beats Kabayel, Parker whilst out of prime thats great IMO. And he can be greater than Ali. But beating Fury and Josh wont make Usyk alongside Ali. It could make Usyk on being a top ten ATG though ranking.
But Usyk needs to beat the beat the best. Fury and Josh arent neccesarily the best as they havent neccesarily fought all the current best fighters.

[Willow The Wisp]

It's weird that people are desperate for this guy to get out the door quickly and not risk a loss.

His heavyweight resume is past prime AJ and shot Fury, he needs more depth on his resume

That's just how it is.
the one prime top heavyweight hes beaten with forever be argued as a KO loss whether it was or not.

He can enhance his resume with a repeat win over Dubois. That's a start getting towards the GOAT region.

But just a start.