Boxing

[The Horse's Mouth]

1 minute ago, Col city fan said:

Really glad Usyk has won. He’s a great character and a class warrior. 
AJ has been so hyped for too long and when pitted against anyone decent, he’s always struggled.

Hopefully AJ is over now.

Usyk v Fury is the fight that needs to happen.

Let's be honest it'd be a shocking fight, furys got about the same iq more agile and has the reach advantage, I don't even think Tyson would want to bother with it either.

 

[Manini]

1 minute ago, The Horse's Mouth said:

most of the numbers who would buy it probably don't know it was on tonight

You said it mate!

[Sly]

I’m not sure Fury / Uysk makes for a great spectacle as far as boxing matches go. It’s be like a game of chess. 

[foxfanazer]

3 minutes ago, Col city fan said:

I’d always said, if AJ had been fighting in the Tyson era, he’d have been nowhere 

Oh mate 100%. Doesn't have that level of aggression that Tyson had. He literally wanted to kill people 

[foxfanazer]

There will be a shortage on Lambrini now with the AJ fans drowning their sorrows

[Zear0]

Nice to see after some stinking decisions recently the "away" fighter being given the result he deserved, outstanding performance from Usyk.

 

Can see a rematch happening though if it's a contractually obliged thing.  Just can't think why AJ wouldn't take it up.  A nice payday for one and I also don't think people would think less of him if he lost again given how comprehensively he was beaten tonight.

[GeorgeTheFox]

 

[Manini]

9 minutes ago, RonnieTodger said:

I hate this reaction of calling Joshua shit though. He’s got a fantastic resume, he’s just lost to a superior boxer.

I think I’m just about here too. He clearly isn’t shit. He was untouchable for a large period and was getting compared to Lewis. Usyk is unreal, as you say, and AJ isn’t getting any younger. He’s had his time in the sun, and he can blame his promoter for not having more show stopping fights up to now. 

[chapero82]

AJ should retire because he’s not beating anybody else at the top

[Manini]

2 minutes ago, foxfanazer said:

There will be a shortage on Lambrini now with the AJ fans drowning their sorrows

My local community Facebook group has gone nuclear with the amount of single mums besides themselves 

[Manini]

I don’t know if @Manwell Pablostill knocks about here - but it would be good to hear his view on what’s next for AJ

[The Horse's Mouth]

I'd love to see AJ whyte 2 tbf

[foxfanazer]

AJ v Jake Paul trilogy?

[Manini]

Just now, The Horse's Mouth said:

I'd love to see AJ whyte 2 tbf

Dil Is well worth a big pay day as well tbf, played second fiddle for too long 

[Sly]

AJ isn’t a bad fighter. However, he’s all a bit Frank Bruno. A solid decent fighter, people like him etc 

 

This hasn’t been a great era of great heavyweights.

[StriderHiryu]

That was one of the best displays in heavyweight boxing I have ever seen. On a technical level, Usyk was incredible!

 

Sad to see a British talent lose, but that's a fight where you have to say the better boxer won fair and square. Incredible performance!

[GeorgeTheFox]

24 minutes ago, Manini said:

I think I’m just about here too. He clearly isn’t shit. He was untouchable for a large period and was getting compared to Lewis. Usyk is unreal, as you say, and AJ isn’t getting any younger. He’s had his time in the sun, and he can blame his promoter for not having more show stopping fights up to now. 

I agree with this.. AJ definitely isn't shit and he has lost to an elite fighter in Usyk. However, AJ is 31 and theoretically should be entering the first stages of his prime, rather than 'not getting any younger.' I think we've just seen what happens when someone who is incredibly physically gifted but only starts training at an older age goes up against someone who has lived and breathed boxing his entire life

[Dames]

The Ruiz fight rumbled AJ because he lost that aura of invincibility he had. He does!n’t believe in his own chin and thats why his new style is to sit in behind his jab and box a style that completely nullifies all his natural abilities.

 

Take nothing away from Usyk, pound for pound great, i’ve got him, Canelo and Inoue in my top 3 pfp. 
 

Usyk wins the rematch too for me, only fighter i can see him struggling with is Fury due to size and reach.

[LestaFox92]

Usyk v whyte would be a fun fight i reckon he deserves it as well.

[Dames]

5 minutes ago, LestaFox92 said:

Usyk v whyte would be a fun fight i reckon he deserves it as well.

Whyte would run him closer but thats because he’d turn it into a brawl.

 

A lot of people mock Chisora but he laid the blueprint, he‘s a hard nights work for any fighter. 

[sm1]

12 minutes ago, GeorgeTheFox said:

I agree with this.. AJ definitely isn't shit and he has lost to an elite fighter in Usyk. However, AJ is 31 and theoretically should be entering the first stages of his prime, rather than 'not getting any younger.' I think we've just seen what happens when someone who is incredibly physically gifted but only starts training at an older age goes up against someone who has lived and breathed boxing his entire life

Exactly, people look at the 19 pro fights that Usyk has had, but forget he's fought over 350 amateur fights. He's literally been fighting his entire adult life. On pure boxing ability, there's nobody better in the world.

[BlueSi13]

Fair play to Usyk.  Much better fighter on the night.

 

However, from Joshua's perspective that was as bad as it gets IMO.  Starting with his weight, coming in at the same weight as fighting Pulev made sense on paper, he was smaller, lighter, more nimble and he looked mighty impressive in that fight.  However that was against a genuine Heavyweight.  In terms of Usyk, Joshua was essentially trying to boil himself down to Usyk's level.  Made no sense.

 

Despite that he was still a stone heavier with a significant reach advantage.  What did Joshua do with that?  Literally nothing.  Didn't impose himself on the fight whatsoever.  Solely reliant on sitting back, boxing with Usyk and hoping to land one big right hand (very Wilder-esque).  

 

However there were no combinations, no snap to his right, had an extremely limp jab, poor defence.  Despite being the much bigger specimen he totally failed to put the pressure on.  Chisora did a much better job and made Usyk look like he didn't belong in there until he gassed out.

 

In order for Usyk to stand a chance he had to close the distance, throughout the night Usyk made 3 or 4 steps in before unloading shots, this was the moment Joshua should have been unloading.  But he didn't, he was passive, took the shots, took the back foot and had ZERO counter shots in response.  Instead it was obvious Joshua was petrified of moving forward and getting caught by the over the top left hand and hook.  Because of that he tried to box but was never in the fight in truth.  Indeed the lack of counter punching was my biggest gripe from tonight.  

 

Also his corner need to be called out, shouting "BRILLIANT AJ", "PERFECT BOXING AJ" etc etc non-stop whilst their man is doing **** all but being jabbed to death.  It was pathetic and wasn't what Joshua needed. 

 

A poor night.  IMO he has nothing to lose in the rematch.  Usyk just might be his Kryptonite so time to hulk up and try to bulldoze him in the next fight.

[LestaFox92]

4 minutes ago, Dames said:

Whyte would run him closer but thats because he’d turn it into a brawl.

 

A lot of people mock Chisora but he laid the blueprint, he‘s a hard nights work for any fighter. 

Yeah no one beats usyk trying to box him bar fury, like you say tho chisora showed us the way made him feel like little man i think sitting on his chest negates any sort of real power usyk has cos he likes weird angles or straight punches.

[foxes_rule1978]

I think Wilder Ko’s AJ if that fight happens, he is easily hit the type of opponent wilder made is career out of 

[Kingleicester]

1 hour ago, foxile5 said:

Stiff at the start and never got into it. 

 

I do wonder if there's a certain amount of fallout from the Ruiz defeat that we don't fully know about. 

It’s all the muscle, look at how relaxed fury is in fights, worlds apart tbf