Usyk vs Ward.

[g27region]

You might be right about 140 (now that Crawford and likely Mikey moved up), but what I was trying to say was there are more fighters with p4p level talent in those divisions than at CW.

Because cruiserweights never been in consideration of being p4p, let's face it. I can guarantee even if Usyk wins this tournament you won't see him on p4p lists in any media sources, that's how it works

IMO WBSS at 168 is deeper and more competitive than the CW tourney. Eubank is a potential p4p fighter, and Groves is an established solid dude. Smith looked bad against Skoglund and looked susceptible to movers but he is huge for the division and I can see him winning the whole thing.

You can't say the same about CW. Usyk is the prohibitive favorite, and no one is even close. Gassiev can make a case, but I'm sorry you can't bring up Lebedev and Bellew if you're trying to strengthen your case that this tourney is competitive.

Okay let's say WBSS at 168 is more competitive because it doesn't have an obvious favorite like Usyk. But the level of talent at CW is way better that's why people follow the tournament but nobody cares about WBSS at 168.
People say that Usyk will win it like it's a foregone conclusion, it's CW, the division where one clean punch has more impact and can change everything. So every CW boxer has a good chance against anybody, the division is stacked with hard punching killers

Gassiev, Dorticos and Briedis have legit chances to beat Usyk, it's not like he's fighting bunch of no hopers

On the other hand, I don't think there's a fighter who can be a legit threat to Eubanks or Groves at 168

And why I can make a case for Gassiev but not for Lebedev who arguably beat Gassiev and definitely gave him a close fight?

[BrometheusBob.]

One is an active cruiserweight and the other is a retired LHW. A fight that will never happen.

I think Ward is a better boxer. But to be fair, I think less highly of Usyk as other people seem to and see Gassiev winning the tournament.

[Banderivets]

The sad thing is these kind of tourneys only happen when the participants themselves aren't big enough to secure the mega pay days. Hard to imagine a super 6 at welter with Crawford, Garcia, Spence, Thurman, Porter, and others when they could all make 2-4 mil a year fighting lesser opposition..

Good point, but precisely the issue.

[just the facts]

I've only seen Usyk fight twice (vs Hunter, Mchunu) and Usyk wasn't impressive vs either and neither was much in the way of tough competition. I just don't see Ward, Kovalev or Stevenson having any problem beating the Usyk I've seen. As bad as Usyk looked in those two fights, Breidis looked even worse Saturday night.

[Squ□redCircle34]

Ward takes the fight on the inside and gets really grimey, I see him winning by Split Decision in the toughest fight of his career!

No way Usyk will have answer for the side step swivel counter hook to the body!

Usyk will try to use his reach and size but Ward is too clever for that and will be just as fast!

He'll find ways to get inside and land shots and muck it up!

People think Briedis is like Ward is wrong!

Ward can punch on the break or off the break!

Come in with head to distract you then laterally move then hook to the body!

If Usyk tries to lean on Ward then don't be surprised he ends up holding his groin area while Wars follows up with hooks to the body!

Usyk does not have the pro experience of a Andre Ward!

You don't go from fighting Glowacki, Hunter, and Huck to an Andre Ward!

Ward will probably make Usyk get frustrated which will work in Ward's favor!

Then when Ward beats him folks will say he need to beat Joshua to be great!

[DrHouse579]

Okay let's say WBSS at 168 is more competitive because it doesn't have an obvious favorite like Usyk. But the level of talent at CW is way better that's why people follow the tournament but nobody cares about WBSS at 168.
People say that Usyk will win it like it's a foregone conclusion, it's CW, the division where one clean punch has more impact and can change everything.


Gassiev, Dorticos and Briedis have legit chances to beat Usyk, it's not like he's fighting bunch of no hopers

On the other hand, I don't think there's a fighter who can be a legit threat to Eubanks or Groves at 168

And why I can make a case for Gassiev but not for Lebedev who arguably beat Gassiev and definitely gave him a close fight?

I disagree about the level of talent.. Marco Huck was the most proven at 200 aside from Usyk, and there's a reason Usyk picked him as his first fight. Not to mention Eubank had to beat Abraham to even get into the tourney.

Honestly, I don't know which is more popular among fans. Could just be that casuals are more interested in heavier weight classes in general, but the interesting names who have real weight are at 168. (LOL no pun intended)

[Cutthroat]

Ward all day, Usyk just hasn't impressed me.

I've been really underwhelmed every time I've seen him, he really struggled against Huck too.




The thing that makes him difficult to beat are his work rate and cardio, he gets credit for a BUNCH of missed punches. If you look at these highlights you'll see him throwing like 8 punch combos but only landing 1 or 2 shots and you know the judges/compubox/fans are counting these punches as connects.

[Madison Boxing]

usyk beats him pretty easily.

[Madison Boxing]

Ward all day, Usyk just hasn't impressed me.

I've been really underwhelmed every time I've seen him, he really struggled against Huck too.




The thing that makes him difficult to beat are his work rate and cardio, he gets credit for a BUNCH of missed punches. If you look at these highlights you'll see him throwing like 8 punch combos but only landing 1 or 2 shots and you know the judges/compubox/fans are counting these punches as connects.

Excuse me?????

[Cutthroat]

Excuse me?????

Watch the highlights, Usyk was missing most of his punches and getting nailed with clean right hands.