Boxing; Give Fans What They Want, It’s Time For Undisputed
It’s been two-decades and change since there was one name atop boxing’s big boy division. That name being Lennox Lewis. And now all the powers that be need to do something everyone has been clamoring for. It’s time for an undisputed heavyweight champion. Perhaps we needed all that time to truly cherish what that means and how special it is. And like the saying goes; “there’s no better time than the present”.
Over the last year or two (okay, maybe three) champions are now willing to fight other champions, no matter what the hurdles. At least that’s what some say (ie: Terence Crawford and Errol Spence). However, having one-name one-face atop a division can understandably be difficult for the governing bodies, something fans need to understand also. However, there’s no connectivity between rankings from one to the next. And all feel that their strap is the most important to be defended first. Bluntly, that’s the main sticking point for them.
But boxing’s a rough sport, and has gotten rougher through the decades thanks to specialized training. Then you have a world of reps and mouth pieces looking at only their greater good. And not the greater good for the overall sport. And frankly, that’s what makes them special. Their tunnel vision.
It’s Time For A Heavyweight One
Now WBC Champion Tyson Fury has every right to retire or stay active. And his clock is ticking for a final decision. It strikes midnight at the end of the week according to the WBC. As it appears all the execs now understand just how much money a Fury Oleksandr Usyk fight means to the fighters, for the sport, the fans, and honestly the world. Let’s not pretend that at least some of the millions upon millions made by the Ukrainian won’t go back to the country for arms and life needing supplies as they’re being bled dry by Russia.
However, what chance realistically does he have in beating “The Gypsy King”. The thought goes; a good big man will always beat a good small man. And this is the battle the world wants and needs now. Now, had Anthony Joshua regained the belts, there probably would have been calls for an immediate trilogy. And Joshua did have some good things in his game plan. He focused on the former undisputed cruiserweights body more, he tried to use his size advantage. Joshua showed Usyk can be cracked and he doesn’t have true returning finishing power at heavyweight. But he also showed Usyk to much respect by just not selling out.
Those are things you can bet Fury and SUGAR HILL STEWARD were taking notes on. On the off-chance that Fury really is done, Usyk will be parked for a while. He said post-fight it’s either Fury or no one. Plus there was already the wheels starting to turn on life after the WBC champion. Deontay Wilder‘s return versus Robert Helenius winner already had a WBC ticket to an eliminator fight. With the other being the winner of Andy Ruiz Jr. and Luis Ortiz. A Fury retirement that he’s serious about means Usyk doesn’t get his chance at immortality till he’s roughly 37.
It’s Time For Undisputed Let’s Look At Them All
WILDER- As long as “The Bronze Bomber” has the dim mak touch; he’s a danger. But Usyk’s movement would frustrate Wilder. It tired out Joshua, and Wilder isn’t as responsible of a fighter as he is. But to think Usyk can match what Fury did against him is hard to believe. The Ukrainian’s chin isn’t in the same ballpark.
RUIZ- The former champion has fast hands, and when stays focused is a hard out. His footwork isn’t too bad either. In theory this might be the best fight of them all.
HELENIUS– He’s the wild card of the bunch. But just doesn’t have close to the ring-IQ that Usyk has. Usyk would probably stay on the outside and out point him.
ORTIZ- He might put a scare into Usyk in say round three getting him along the ropes and teeing off for a while. But Usyk’s will to not go down will drain any resilience Ortiz has.
FURY- The fact is Usyk is like Fury’s mini-me version. There are a lot of similarities in their makeup. But the freakish size might just take the “0” from Usyk the way it did Wilder.
Whoever it is, whenever it is, the one thing boxing fans better ask for from Santa is “more undisputed fights”.
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