{"id":11637,"date":"2019-03-07T16:14:04","date_gmt":"2019-03-07T16:14:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/?p=11637"},"modified":"2019-03-07T16:14:04","modified_gmt":"2019-03-07T16:14:04","slug":"holyfield-undisputed-usyk-may-struggle-against-the-big-boys","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/en\/holyfield-undisputed-usyk-may-struggle-against-the-big-boys\/","title":{"rendered":"Holyfield: Undisputed Usyk may struggle against the big boys"},"content":{"rendered":"

Holyfield: Undisputed Usyk may struggle against the big boys<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

By Peter Gilbert<\/span><\/p>\n

Oleksandr Usyk could struggle against the giants of the heavyweight division when he steps up in weight, warns former two-weight undisputed champion, Evander Holyfield.<\/span><\/p>\n

Usyk retained all four of his cruiserweight world titles with an eighth-round stoppage of former WBC champion Tony Bellew in his last fight in November.<\/span><\/p>\n

The undefeated Ukrainian is now being pencilled in for his debut in the glamour division against Alexander Povetkin or Carlos Takam in Chicago in May.<\/span><\/p>\n

Against either opponent, the 6-foot-3 Usyk will be the taller man, however, the southpaw will be at a disadvantage against the division\u2019s undefeated big boys 6-foot-9 Tyson Fury, 6-foot-7 Deontay Wilder, or 6-foot-6 Anthony Joshua.<\/span><\/p>\n

Holyfield, who won the heavyweight crown four times after clearing up at cruiserweight, believes the 32-year-old will have to rely on his speed to make the transition a success.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUsyk is a real good fighter, he\u2019s got real skills and he\u2019s a left-hander,\u201d Holyfield told The Ring. \u201cHe\u2019s moving up, but heavyweights are bigger today, so I think it could be difficult for him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUsyk is gonna be fighting guys who are 6-foot-9. In my day, the heavyweights were big, but they couldn\u2019t bounce around like I could. I had good wheels; I could roll in and roll out. I could do all this, and Usyk will need to do them too.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt also depends on who he fights,\u201d added Holyfield. \u201cWe had some great boxers at heavyweight, but in today\u2019s era the amateur program – at least in America – is not as good as it was. That\u2019s showing up when it comes to the boxing ability of the big guys.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUsyk might move very fast at heavyweight. The reason I was inspired to do it was because [Mike] Tyson was the heavyweight champion of the world. When we were amateurs, he was heavier than me and I was able to do well with him [in sparring]. He hit harder, but my arms were longer than his. He could hit hard with one shot, but I can hit you all day and all night.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow, I heard that Usyk did well with [Wladimir] Klitschko in sparring. If that\u2019s the case, then he knows he can do well with heavyweights.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt won\u2019t be easy for him, but becoming heavyweight champion of the world should never be easy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Holyfield: Undisputed Usyk may struggle against the big boys By Peter Gilbert Oleksandr Usyk could struggle against the giants of the heavyweight division when he steps [\u2026]<\/span><\/p>\n

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