Usyk-Gassiev

[ShamrockXpress]

Is this potentially the best fight to be made in boxing?

We have two young, undefeated, prime, world class cruiserweights both coming off there respective best wins.

We have the fact that they have both cleaned up any loose ends in the division so there can be no one standing at the end adding uncertainty to there dominance.

We have the added angle of Russia against Ukraine with it being played on a large scale at a neutral location which should limit the chance of a dodgy decision.

In the end we will be left with the first fully unified cruiserweight champion since evader holyfield and first since the acceptance of the WBO title. Add in the fact that it will be recognised for the vacant ring title aswell as the Muhammed ali trophy and neither fighter could claim to not be motivated to win.

[Eff Pandas]

I think the winner of this fight will be the leading contender for fighter of the year. Long way to go still obviously, but with either guys semifinal bout + the final + what they end the year with thats basically a auto entry into the running for FOTY.

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

The best fighting the best, you can’t ask for much more. I’m hyped for this fight, I’ve even been looking at flights to Jeddah������

[Ray*]

This two deserves a great payday for this fight. Two belts each, both undefeated, both artist in their own style/way. Four belts by the winner, undisputed etc am literally drooling from the mouth as the prospect of this fight.

[Ray*]

We all talked about neutral site for the final, but Saudi Arabia!!! That’s as neutral as you can get.

[soul_survivor]

I dunno. Gassiev has terrific conditioning but he doesnt let his hands go enough. It took him till the 11th round to unleash a combination of more than 3 punches, even though Dorticos was open to it since about the 7th or 8th.

Plus, he is too mechanical, so unless Usyk shows the type of form he did against Glow, we'll end up with a mechanical, one-two back and forth, like we just got tonight.

[moochi]

Yep and the winner is most probably #1 #P4P. The winner will have Unified a division by beating two other legitimate champions and also a Super Unified Champion in Usyk/Gassiev.

[chrisJS]

This two deserves a great payday for this fight. Two belts each, both undefeated, both artist in their own style/way. Four belts by the winner, undisputed etc am literally drooling from the mouth as the prospect of this fight.

Winner makes $10m.

I think winner of the frontrunner for FOTY and the WBC/WBA/IBF/WBO/Ring champ and for sure top 5 pound for pound.

I'd have both top 10 currently and think it's the best fight that can be made this year.

[moochi]

I am trying to think why the winner would NOT be the TOP P4P.

What has Terence Crawford done to be higher: he beat Postol (great win) and then beat Indongo (average fighter who was lucky to have two belts).

Lomachenko: Similar to the above, he beat a small Rigo.

GGG: He has beaten all of his opponents but none of them happened to be super undefeated fighters (don't dare mention Canelo as a super fighter).


PS - not saying the above fighters ain't great.

[sweeterscience]

Winner makes $10m.

I think winner of the frontrunner for FOTY and the WBC/WBA/IBF/WBO/Ring champ and for sure top 5 pound for pound.

I'd have both top 10 currently and think it's the best fight that can be made this year.

I'm not sure I'd have both in my top 10 p4p, but I wouldn't say that's too far off or I would have them too far off the list. The main thing holding me back would be the sample size against top fighters, for both Gassiev and Usyk. Though, in fairness, you could make a similiar argument about Loma or Crawford.

You're definitely right that it's the best fight that can be made this year. Though I would really love to see Francisco Vargas vs. Alberto Machado too. Mexico vs. Puerto Rico rivalry, both big hitters who can be hurt.