Technically the best heavyweight for a long time. I think Fury is brilliant and a real step up from the likes of Joshua but a lot that comes down to his size and stature, Usyk doesn’t have that luxury. Just an animal.
The AI scorecard had Usyk even further ahead! https://talksport.com/boxing/2413227/tyson-fury-angry-x-rated-ai-scorecard-oleksandr-usyk/
I watched with my beer googles firmly on. Havent watched it back. I thought Fury had won it after round 9. Usyk came on strong. But I still had Fury slightly ahead. Was startled by the judges scores I have to say. Maybe I need to watch it sober, but I really didnt see a dominant Usyk performance at all, personally. The saying it is hard to beat a champion on points is a true one, but I am not sure it is written in the rules...
the thing is 116-112 doesn’t necessarily mean dominant. It can mean he just edged a couple more rounds. I think it was just an incredibly close fight where Usyk edged it more often than fury did. Which is definitely the way it sounded listening to it on 5 live.
And just on Fury, the fact he pushed Usyk this close tells me it’s not over for him. He should easily beat Joshua in the inevitable fight next summer.
I dont quite see it that way mate. The scoring system in boxing is called the 10 point must system, or something like that. The winner of the round, in the eyes of the judge scores 10. By default the loser scores 9, even if he has lost the round heavily. A knockdown, or standing count, will result in a 10-8 score. So a 116 to 112 card means usyk won 8 of 12 rounds, or 2/3rds. In their first fight, which I though Usyk won well, it was much much closer on the cards, despite on 10-8 round. To me, winning 8 rounds in boxing is dominance, and last night did not appear to be that sort of display, to me at least. Still not watched it back sober, so probably wrong, but I gave Fury more than 4 rounds for sure.
yeh that’s fair but I think it’s the flaw of the boxing scoring system. A close round is often scored the same as a dominant one. Which can make close fights that one boxer consistently edges, look a lot more dominant than an actually dominant performance where the other fighter nicks a few rounds.
Would anyone want to watch that fight? Shades of Tyson v Lewis in 2002 when both of them were either washed up, or close to the end. For the record, he'd put AJ on his arse in round 1. wouldn't even be a contest
yeh I think it would get tonnes of UK interest at least. No where near what it would have done 3-5 years ago tho
Mayweather Pacquiao. Brook Khan. They dodge each other until the fight becomes irrelevant and then do it. Frigging irritating.
I went to Wembley for Fury Whyte. We never really expected a contest. However, it was probably the best sporting atmosphere I have ever experienced. 100k in the stadium and I bet 99% were for Fury. The 30 mins before ring walks were elctric with the singing. Then the ringwalk of Fury was off the scale tbh. When he flattened him again it was just a brilliant atmosphere. Even the day itself, around Wembley, was class. So long as it was Wembley again I would do it.
Totally get that Wembley would be immense for Fury v Joshua, even if it’s not as good as it could/should've been
Fury Vs Joshua would probably break the vast majority of records for attendance, gate and PPV buys. Would be one of, if not the biggest UK fight of all time TBF.
One of the best bits about Wembley is the fighters can stay on the doorstep. Fury was in a hotel next door. He came down and had a chat with some of us stood outside. He is bloody massive up close. There are plenty of stars out and about too. We saw Lennox, who is a bit of a hero of mine, and he massive as well. If they did it at Wembley there would be more for Joshua I am sure, so atmosphere could be even better. But if Fury wants one last go at a big event, he would bring the house down with the show I am sure.
I go back to the middleweight days of Benn Eubank and co. There were bigger fights then, but couldnt match the money these boys get now. Imagine Benn Eubank 2 now at Wembley. Would be absolutely off the scale.
