We are too harsh towards usyk

[TMLT87]

He deserves all the criticism he gets for fighting a non-boxer when people have wanted him to fight Kabayel for a while now, and then looking bad on top of that which just needlessly makes the sport look bad.

Another completely valid criticism of his HW career (although its not entirely his fault) is how much of it is made up of rematches.

[Simurgh]

The rematch should happen because Usyk will despite his legendary career then always be remembered as that boxer that got slapped around the ring by a 6 month beginner and got assigned a Win outside of regular round time.

Very much doubt that - maybe by a very small portion of people for whom he rematching and KOing Rico again wont make a difference. For vast majority Usyk is a legend that did everything in the sport multiple times. One of the very best ever.

Is there anyone that calls him a cheat (or whatever) now that will change their mind if he rematches and outclass Rico?

[Simurgh]

Nah he’s just not the GOAT.

ATG for sure and incredible boxing skills but he can’t fight inside. His inside game is piss poor and we saw glimpses of this vs Del Boy. As some others have said, I’d favour pretty much all elite level swarmers to not just beat him but to ragdoll his ass.

Inoue is the best of this generation. I put Bam ahead of him to and Crawford. Maybe even Bivol.

Ali didnt go to a body, just saying. Btw cannot disagree more he cannot fight inside. Watch his CW fights. Of course he wont stay inside with men outweighing him 30+ lbs (laws of physics still apply for Usyk ).

[Haka]

Very much doubt that - maybe by a very small portion of people for whom he rematching and KOing Rico again wont make a difference. For vast majority Usyk is a legend that did everything in the sport multiple times. One of the very best ever.

Is there anyone that calls him a cheat (or whatever) now that will change their mind if he rematches and outclass Rico?

Outclassing still remains to be seen , this fight was awarded by the referee waving off the fight after the round time had expired.

[kafkod]

No, we are not. Taking criticism is a must just as when you take praising and decisions in rigged fights.

Rico is 37, with a large number of fights and punishment throughout.

That's the thing: Rico is not a boxer.

He's been training in boxing gyms and sparring elite level HW boxers for over 10 years.

[Coverdale]

He fought a huge awkward guy, who is not even a boxer, but he is a kickboxer. Usyk is 39 old, he clearly overlooked the guy, but at the end of the day he won by a stoppage.

Usyk will be in shape against Kabayel.

A huge awkward guy who looked roided to the gills. Anyone know what the testing protocols for Saturday were? Rico should have been part of the Clean Boxing Program given this was a WBC title fight.

[Coverdale]

He's been training in boxing gyms and sparring elite level HW boxers for over 10 years.

And been on all manner of enhancers very likely. A guy of that mass moving that way for 12 rounds is a huge red flag.

[Simurgh]

Outclassing still remains to be seen , this fight was awarded by the referee waving off the fight after the round time had expired.

So if he rematches and outclasses him he deserves credit and we should not be hearing should have fought Agit/Moses/etc… instead?

[JOITATS]

He's been training in boxing gyms and sparring elite level HW boxers for over 10 years.

so do most top level kickboxers and MMA fighters - part time.

your point?



an elite boxing champion should never struggle that badly vs any kickboxer (who trains part time in a pro boxing gym)

[Mimms]

I find it highly unrealistic that Usyk took this fight lightly.
It’s one of the biggest events of his career.
He always has the discipline, and trains properly for every fight. Adding wgt was prob also part of his strategy.

He just couldn’t figure out Rico. He struggled finding the right distance. He ate a big right in the 2nd round, which made him more cautious. He also looked confused on the inside. Rico to his credit was better than we thought. But he had a pretty basic approach. It wasn’t like he was physically overpowering or exceptionally quick and athletic.

Usyk couldn’t adjust and adapt vs a 1-0 guy. You can’t consider anyone with those kinds of issues as the king of boxing. I think his stock goes way down.

you need to watch that fight again when you say, "He just couldn’t figure out Rico. He struggled finding the right distance."

usyk kept his distance and landed clean shots to ricos face throughout the night. jabs all night along with combos. and then that uppercut started landing midway through the fight. you are right, rico landed a clean right a few times but that was the only clean shots landed really.