Can't really say as Usyk hasn't faced a proper heavyweight yet. Right now I'd pick Tua by dramatic come from behind KO, but if Usyk gets a win over Wilder then I'd change my pick to Usyk by wide decision.
The Tua of the Ike, Izon, Maskaev and Ruiz Days Makes for a COMPELLING Ass Fight, Revealing ALL We Need to Know about Usyk's Punch Resistance... But Any Post-Rahman Version of Tua Gets Out Worked, Out Boxed and Out Pointed w/Little to No Fuss... REED
I think Tua finds him and exposes him. He'd have Usyk wearing one of those grass skirts and floral shirt, serving Penis Colonas on the rocks.
People are gonna be extra high on Usyk right now because the AJ win is so fresh, but I would take 96-97 Tua to KO him late. Usky's punches would feel like tickles to Tua. It's not like with Lennox, where Tua got hurt and got spooked by Lennox's power. I feel Tua's pressure would take its toll, and Usyk would get caught with big shots he can't recover from. Only Fury beats 96 Tua out of the current crop imo.
Thus was out-boxed by Hasim Rahman, Oleg Maskaev, Chris Byrd and seemed to shit the bed when offered up movement and a jab. Now, Tua's build and style is what's bad for Usyk. It was in the amateurs, and was vs Briedis and Chisora. However, Briedis is way better than Tua ever was and he figured Chisora out very quickly. I don't think Tua has the feet to beat Usyk.
He can't. P4P skill aside, there's an astounding gap in power, chin, and strength that we're talking about here. Handspeed too. People really tend to forget that the in-shape Tua of 96 was pretty fucking quick.
David Izon was the same size as Usyk and otherwise not as good (got blasted by Grant) and gave Tua a very difficult fight. Tua had difficulty against well-moving guys and that is Usyk's best game and thus I'd make him the narrow favorite. If Usyk got as brave as with AJ, he obviously loses but he probably realizes that much.
It wasn't Briedis' power and strength which trouble Usyk, it was his skill and style. Two things he's much, much better at than Tua.
The 96 version of tua! who kod ruiz, not the young tua who got kod by a body shot by savon or the old fat version who needed a gift stoppage vs rahman in 98
Agreed. I liked Tua but Usyk is just better. Tua dropped far too many rounds during his career to pick him over Usyk.
