Usyk rather wants Bellew at CW, then Joshua...

[kafkod]

... tbh, Usyk simply can't deal with those huge heavyweights like Joshua, Wilder or Fury... (just watch him fighting Joe Joyce)...

Usyk won every round on all the judges scorecards against Joyce. I he'd boxed in the same stick and move style he used against Gassiev, I don't think Joe would have laid a glove on him!

[_Rexy_]

Usyk won every round on all the judges scorecards against Joyce. I he'd boxed in the same stick and move style he used against Gassiev, I don't think Joe would have laid a glove on him!

I don't think Joe hit him either. The announcers seemed to think so until the third round until they realized that usyk stepped around each punch like it was nothing.

I think the "lack of power" is being blown out of proportion here. Usyk is 220lbs. There's a big difference in "lacking power" and "lacking power for a heavyweight"

he will still drop people.

[kafkod]

... OK... but it's interesting how Usyk tries to lure Bellew down to CW...

When Usyk first called Bellew out he said he would fight him at either CW or HW, whichever Bellew wanted.

[kafkod]

I don't think Joe hit him either. The announcers seemed to think so until the third round until they realized that usyk stepped around each punch like it was nothing.

I think the "lack of power" is being blown out of proportion here. Usyk is 220lbs. There's a big difference in "lacking power" and "lacking power for a heavyweight"

he will still drop people.

Usyk was very aggressive - even a little reckless - against Joyce, and he can be hit when he goes after opponents like that. But when he is focusing on defence, like he was against Gassiev, he is very, very difficult to catch.

He has a good KO% at cruiserweight and will obviously hit harder when he doesn't have to cut to the CW limit. But it's his speed, skill, work rate, and freakish stamina that would make him a threat to the likes of AJ and Wilder. You can't take breathers against Usyk. If you do, he will swamp you with a tidal wave of punches from all directions.

[MDPopescu]

Usyk won every round on all the judges scorecards against Joyce. I he'd boxed in the same stick and move style he used against Gassiev, I don't think Joe would have laid a glove on him!

... Truth is that Usyk is much better now than his version vs Joyce...

[MDPopescu]

Usyk was very aggressive - even a little reckless - against Joyce, and he can be hit when he goes after opponents like that. But when he is focusing on defence, like he was against Gassiev, he is very, very difficult to catch.

He has a good KO% at cruiserweight and will obviously hit harder when he doesn't have to cut to the CW limit. But it's his speed, skill, work rate, and freakish stamina that would make him a threat to the likes of AJ and Wilder. You can't take breathers against Usyk. If you do, he will swamp you with a tidal wave of punches from all directions.

... and he will have to be a little reckless vs those three giants too -- because otherwise he will not land anything of notice...

[chrisJS]

Bellew may prefer the fight at Cruiserweight too. He'll have a crack at all the titles. Unless he's got to hurt himself making 200 lbs maybe he'll want to go for the titles?

Sounds like this is next regardless. Not an overly competitive fight but one that will draw attention and give Usyk an opportunity to go and beat another respected fighter in his own backyard.

[Banderivets]

... OK... but it's interesting how Usyk tries to lure Bellew down to CW...

On the contrary, Usyk wanted to test the waters at HW with Bellew...but Bellew wants the fight at CW for the belts.

I can dig up the interview its in Russian if you are interested.

[MDPopescu]

On the contrary, Usyk wanted to test the waters at HW with Bellew...but Bellew wants the fight at CW for the belts.

I can dig up the interview its in Russian if you are interested.

... give me the link, please (Google does the translation)...

[kafkod]

... Truth is that Usyk is much better now than his version vs Joyce...

He's changed trainers twice recently, and the reason he gave for getting rid of his last coach - that he wasn't teaching him anything new - indicates that he knew he needed to improve.

He seems more controlled and balanced in his movements now than he used to be. I noticed him doing balance exercises while training for Gassiev in a video at the WBSS YT channel. Maybe that's something he's been focusing on with his new trainer, Russ Anber.