Does anyone else think Usyk is in for a rude awakening at heavyweight?

[ShaneMosleySr]

I thought Usyk’s fight with Briedis could have easily gone the other way and I thought Briedis got a huge gift in his fight against Mikaelian. I also thought Mikaelian beat Woldercyzk, one of Usyks best wins. So I personally believe Usky-Mikaelian could be a toss up.

I also thought the Bellew fight was too close when Usyk finally knocked him out.

Because of these things, I don’t consider Usyk to be the Superman he’s being billed as. I have a bad feeling he’s going to get beat by a heavyweight that isn’t supposed to beat him. I also don’t think he has a prayer against any of the big three.

Maybe he’ll be okay because his management could avoid taller heavyweights until a title shot. But I’m still not completely certain he’ll beat he’s shorter guys.

Thoughts?

[Scopedog]

For me it's hard to say. I think in terms of raw skills he's a head above more or less anyone at HW, but will that hold up when he starts giving height and reach away?

I think he should play it safe and ease his way into the division rather than go straight for the jugular. Maybe fight some guys who are big but not very good first, like Wach or Ustinov, to get used to fighting bigger opponents before even thinking of the likes of Joshua.

[Redd Foxx]

It's been talked about at length. Without the power to keep big guys off of him, he's going to face some challenges.

[Curtis Harper]

He's syk but not syk enough. He can beat up shot Arreola level types.

[Ray*]

I think the only reservation I have is the power aspect. Can he keep the bigger guys honest? If he can’t then they might just walk through him.

[Scopedog]

I think the only reservation I have is the power aspect. Can he keep the bigger guys honest? If he can’t then they might just walk through him.

I think Usyk's power is a little ambiguous but he's shown signs that he can hit plenty hard. He doesn't have a tremendous KO percentage and seems to specialise in outboxing opponents for 12 rounds, but at the same time he knocked out Bellew with one punch. Also the fact that he no longer has to cut weight could aid with his power, but it doesn't always work that way.

[BillyBoxing]

It depends if he was cutting a lot of weight and so cutting his strength to make 200....

If olie only walk around 210 he will have some problem...if he's more of a 220 pounds CW while being fit he should have enough pop and skills to do ok.

Tbh he's a bit short, he better polish his footwork to go in and out, not being a siff like Garcia was Vs Spence.

I don't see him beating the top HW, especially not Fury...but I give him a fair shot.

[MusoMeanderings]

I think his promoters will guide him safely before cashing out against one of the bigger guys.

[Ray*]

I think Usyk's power is a little ambiguous but he's shown signs that he can hit plenty hard. He doesn't have a tremendous KO percentage and seems to specialise in outboxing opponents for 12 rounds, but at the same time he knocked out Bellew with one punch. Also the fact that he no longer has to cut weight could aid with his power, but it doesn't always work that way.

We shall see, with Holyfield and Haye we kinda know they have power. Only if they can pack the muscles on in the right places to make it count at HW, with Usyk that doesn’t seem the case. Hopefully he would pack a bit of power on at HW.

[LetOutTheCage]

I think the only reservation I have is the power aspect. Can he keep the bigger guys honest? If he can’t then they might just walk through him.

Yeah this is true, his KO's come accumulation of shots (doesnt seem to have the one-punch power). His work-rate makes up for it though. Could see him outworking a lot of heavyweights and gradually breaking them down.