Joshua vs Usyk - Sep 25 ? ??

[wandshogun09]

Apples & Pears wasn’t happy.

 

[ColinBollocks]

Piss funny, really. It wouldn't surprise me if AJ loses the rematch and they do AJ v Fury without the belts now.

It felt like as soon as Usyk wanted to up his output, Joshua was losing the round. Joshua didn't have the cardio, skill or speed to match him when Usyk did.

One of Joshua's greatest attribute is his resilience, as he's always been vulnerable, and that's getting put to the test in the rematch. He was beaten soundly by a smarter and more skilled fighter here and be interesting to see if he can close the gap. 

[wandshogun09]

6 minutes ago, ColinBollocks said:

Piss funny, really. It wouldn't surprise me if AJ loses the rematch and they do AJ v Fury without the belts now.

This is what I’ve been thinking. I wonder if AJ vs Fury is more likely now if Wilder beats Fury and they end up meeting without all the belts. It’d lose something obviously, one of the most appealing things about that whole thing was that they’d unify the belts and settle who the main man was. But it’d still be a big deal of course if they ever eventually clash.

Rematch clauses are gonna muddy it all though. Usyk vs Joshua 2 is no doubt gonna be next and even if Wilder sparks Fury in a couple of weeks, then they’re 1-1-1 and probably go straight into a 4th fight. Strip all the rematch clauses, politics and belts away and I’d rather just see Usyk vs the winner of Fury vs Wilder 3 next and AJ against the loser. Either way we get the titles unified in one fight and AJ in a humungous fight against one of the 2 names people have wanted to see him in with for ages. But it won’t go like that obviously in Rematch City. 

[ColinBollocks]

2 minutes ago, wandshogun09 said:

This is what I’ve been thinking. I wonder if AJ vs Fury is more likely now if Wilder beats Fury and they end up meeting without all the belts. It’d lose something obviously, one of the most appealing things about that whole thing was that they’d unify the belts and settle who the main man was. But it’d still be a big deal of course if they ever eventually clash.

Rematch clauses are gonna muddy it all though. Usyk vs Joshua 2 is no doubt gonna be next and even if Wilder sparks Fury in a couple of weeks, then they’re 1-1-1 and probably go straight into a 4th fight. Strip all the rematch clauses, politics and belts away and I’d rather just see Usyk vs the winner of Fury vs Wilder 3 next and AJ against the loser. Either way we get the titles unified in one fight and AJ in a humungous fight against one of the 2 names people have wanted to see him in with for ages. But it won’t go like that obviously in Rematch City. 

Fury mentioned in his interview with Gary Neville that if they can't get it sorted due to rematches and mandatory clauses, then he'll look to fight without the belts. Fury has been very clear that once the Wilder fight is out the way he wants to fight AJ and retire.

[wandshogun09]

You’d think Usyk is well in the mix for Fury as well now though. This is the best the Heavyweight division has been in fucking ages isn’t it? Definitely in my lifetime anyway. 

[Egg Shen]

1 hour ago, ColinBollocks said:

Fury mentioned in his interview with Gary Neville that if they can't get it sorted due to rematches and mandatory clauses, then he'll look to fight without the belts. 

If history has taught us one thing, its that you can't believe a word that comes out of Tyson Fury's mouth, so take that with a pinch of salt.

Its a travesty really that everything was lined up for a unified heavyweight title fight between two Brits but boxing politics and ego's fucked it. Weird sport isnt it.

 

[Carbomb]

What's the thought on Usyk vs. Fury? I get the impression that could be a bridge too far for Usyk; he's insanely skilled, but so's Fury, and the size differential would most likely the deciding factor.

[Cousin Jim Bob]

I think that is one of the biggest "what Fury turns up" fights. There seems to be real personal beef between him and Wilder/AJ. Which I think motivates him to train hard and be 100% focused come fight time. If he beats Wilder again then beats AJ, he might think he has done it all and completed everything in his career that he wants to. 

I think Fury would be favourite but Usyk is just as awkward and hard to hit. I could see him outworking Fury nicking a decision.

Wand I loved the period of Heavyweight boxing in 93/94 when I first got into the sport. Holyfield, Bowe, Lewis at the top with loads of interesting guys like Foreman, Bruno, Moorer, Morrison, Mercer etc knocking around the top ten, plus Tyson getting out of prison soon. That era had more depth but loads of cool fights were never made or we had to wait years for them to happen. This is definitely the best since then though. Any fight between the top 4 is fascinating and could completely turn the division in a new direction. Just hope unlike the early/mid 90's all the big fights that we want get made.

Edited September 26, 2021 by Cousin Jim Bob

[wandshogun09]

10 minutes ago, Cousin Jim Bob said:

Wand I loved the period of Heavyweight boxing in 93/94 when I first got into the sport. Holyfield, Bowe, Lewis at the top with loads of interesting guys like Foreman, Bruno, Moorer, Morrison, Mercer etc knocking around the top ten, plus Tyson getting out of prison soon. That era had more depth but loads of cool fights were never made or we had to wait years for them to happen. This is definitely the best since then though. Any fight between the top 4 is fascinating and could completely turn the division in a new direction. Just hope unlike the early/mid 90's all the big fights that we want get made.

You’re right I have a real soft spot for that era myself. David Tua was knocking about around that time as well, always enjoyed watching him. The division was choc-full of characters and controversy at the time. The ‘fan man’ thing during Bowe vs Holyfield 2, the Bowe vs Golota riot at MSG, Big Lennox and Hasim Rahman having a scuffle during a studio interview. Something barmy was always happening. I don’t really remember much of it in real time though until about 96 when Holyfield bashed up Tyson. I’d have only been 8/9 in 93/94. 

[Egg Shen]

5 hours ago, Carbomb said:

What's the thought on Usyk vs. Fury? I get the impression that could be a bridge too far for Usyk; he's insanely skilled, but so's Fury, and the size differential would most likely the deciding factor.

have to fancy Fury based on sheer size, i reckon Usyk could give him issues but Fury using his physical tools and leaning all over Usyk would make it a rough night. 

Id love to see it though. You'd have to imagine Usyk would come in with a pretty smart plan to go about beating Fury, be interesting to see how he goes about it.

[David]

20 hours ago, wandshogun09 said:

This is what I’ve been thinking. I wonder if AJ vs Fury is more likely now if Wilder beats Fury and they end up meeting without all the belts. It’d lose something obviously, one of the most appealing things about that whole thing was that they’d unify the belts and settle who the main man was. But it’d still be a big deal of course if they ever eventually clash.

I reckon Fury beats Wilder then offers to face Joshua next regardless. Then it'll be up to Joshua if he wants the rematch with Usyk, or the big money fight with Fury. If he's smart he'll take the Fury fight, because he's not getting much change out of a rematch with Usyk unless he suddenly learns how to box like a big man. 

The Fury vs Joshua fight could be framed as the unstoppable Tyson Fury against an AJ who is down and out and needs the big win to stay relevant.

If Fury beats Wilder then beats Joshua I could honestly see him calling it a day. He'll have reached the summit. The only way after that is down.

16 hours ago, Carbomb said:

What's the thought on Usyk vs. Fury? I get the impression that could be a bridge too far for Usyk; he's insanely skilled, but so's Fury, and the size differential would most likely the deciding factor.

Fury all day for me in that one. For all that he's a total goon outside the ring, Fury is a technical master inside the ropes, and he'd implement the kind of gameplan that Joshua simply wasn't capable of doing. He'd be all over Usyk, leaning on him, making the fight a total shitfest until the later rounds when an exhausted Usyk eventually gets stopped while taking a load of unanswered shots on the feet.

[Your Fight Site]

I can see Hearn nixing an AJ–Fury scrap. They have nothing on the table. Fury’s going to (rightfully) demand a lion’s share of the purse being a world title holder and Hearn will be spinning as much yarn as he possibly can to get that as close to 50/50 as possible before getting laughed out of the room.

I’d like to see Fury and his team now angle for a unification bout with Usyk. It’s what people want. If Fury does lose to Wilder before then, then that leaves both Fury and AJ open to an all-British grudge match to just settle the score once and for all. No belts, just bragging rights.

[David]

4 minutes ago, Your Fight Site said:

I’d like to see Fury and his team now angle for a unification bout with Usyk. It’s what people want.

You think if Fury beats Wilder that people will want to see him face Usyk more than they would want to see an all-British clash between him and Joshua? 

Even if Fury did agree to a 50/50 split in a potential Joshua fight, he'd still make way more money most likely than he would for fighting Usyk. 

[Keith Houchen]

9 minutes ago, Your Fight Site said:

t’s what people want.

Which people? Not fans, that’s for sure. 

[Your Fight Site]

12 minutes ago, Keith Houchen said:

Which people? Not fans, that’s for sure. 

People were wanting a unification bout when Fury and Joshua were the title holders. Why would that have changed now that there’s a different person holding the belts? A unification bout sells itself, no matter who’s holding the belts.

Joshua’s next payday would be a big money fight against Fury, but you really think Hearn’s going to go into negotiations with a level head? Joshua’s got nothing to bring to the table now after losing his belts first to a late stand-in, out of shape Mexican and now to a cruiserweight.