USYK VS. THE GREATS
“He fights the way heavyweights used to fight back in the day, where they were working
challenge, if not beat, the best. He later gave “The Greatest” fits in the second and third fights of their iconic trilogy. Interestingly, Usyk would be four inches taller and would hold a five-inch reach advantage over the compact Frazier but would likely weigh about the same. Diaz: “Great fight, and Frazier would bring the smoke, but Usyk would be too smart to trade and he would use the ring and box. Usyk by 12-round split decision.” Rotonda: “Usyk will have a much-needed height and reach advantage here. I think this fight could look somewhat similar to Usyk vs. Gassiev. As long as he can avoid that left hook from Frazier, then he can sit behind his jab for most of the night and control the distance. I have Usyk in a decision win in this one.”
USYK VS. GEORGE FOREMAN There were two versions of Foreman: the 1968 gold medalist-turned-menacing, brooding wrecking machine of the 1970s and the loveable grandfather who started his comeback in the late 1980s, regaining the title in the mid- ’90s. Both had very heavy hands. Both were capable of causing mayhem. For purposes of scoring this feature, we’re focusing on the first version. Foreman bludgeoned Joe Frazier (TKO 2) and Ken Norton (TKO 2) into defeat before being shocked by Muhammad Ali
(TKO 2), it was a completely different style from that of Usyk. If Norton brought his A-game, he was a handful for anyone. Diaz: “I liked Norton, and the one who fought Holmes is tough to beat. But in most cases, his chin betrayed him. I see a competitive bout for five rounds, but Usyk takes over after that and stops Norton in nine.” Rotonda: “Ken Norton was so strong, could really hang with the best of them. He would have to really lure Usyk into fighting his fight in order to overcome the Ukrainian in this one. I think he would find himself chasing Usyk most of the fight, and Oleksandr should be able to dictate the pace after the first couple of rounds. I’ll side with Usyk in a decision win.” Mizzone: “I think Usyk’s boxing style would be too much for Norton to handle. Yes, Norton beat Ali the first time, but it seems that most of the time Norton stepped up, he struggled. I am going with Usyk, TKO 10.” USYK: 3-0 for three minutes a round.” - Russ Anber
(KO 8) in the “Rumble in the Jungle” in 1974. In his second act, after a 10- year hiatus from boxing, he became the oldest fighter (at the time) to win a world title when he stunned Michael Moorer (KO 10) at 45 years old. Usyk would need to box the perfect fight and avoid getting caught by big punches. Diaz: “Whether the young lion or the older version, Big George would be too strong and Usyk would be too smart to stand and slug. Usyk would use the ring and box. Young George by KO. Usyk by 12-round unanimous decision over the older version.” Rotonda: “I love George Foreman. He was so dominant during his first run in the 1970s. Oleksandr Usyk isn’t a guy who is going to try and fight fire with fire, though; he has a much higher fight IQ than that. George wasn’t the most technically sound heavyweight either, though. But he had those eraser shots in both hands, which made up for any flaws he may have had elsewhere. Outside of Ali, nobody was really able to withstand his power during his prime
Mizzone: “I think in this fight Frazier would have a hard time with a boxer, which is what Usyk is, and will also have problems with Usyk’s southpaw stance. So I am going with Usyk by UD 12.” USYK: 3-0
USYK VS. KEN NORTON The fighting Marine fought out of a crouched stance, often using a cross- armed defense, but he liked to stalk forward. The unorthodox style regularly troubled even the best of the golden era. He beat Muhammad Ali once and gave him trouble in two more contests, and he also gave Larry Holmes all he could handle over 15 epic rounds. Though he was blown away by George Foreman
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