So we're actually not in the Era of Super Heavweights

[qad]

So guys like Ali, Liston, Frazier, Foreman, Holmes, Tyson and Holyfield all used to weigh anywhere from 205-225 lbs generally.

But guys like Lennox, Bowe, Klitschkos and more recently Fury and AJ all generally weigh 240+ and the general trend I had seen recently was that you need to be a super heavyweight(240+) to be a dominant champion at heavyweight from now on.

But I suppose Usyk has now proved that's not necessarily true.

[Atypicalbrit]

The thing is Usyk is the exception

In the last 25 years it's been dominated by big guys, Usyk and to a much lesser extent David Haye being the only exceptions.

Lewis was the guy from 1999 to the early 2000s, Wlad reigned for 10 years at the top, then you had fury/aj/Wilder for what 5 years or so and we have had a couple of years of Usyk.

So it's like 23 years of super heavyweights 2 years of usyk

So no, it's not a myth but there is exceptions

[qad]

The thing is Usyk is the exception

In the last 25 years it's been dominated by big guys, Usyk and to a much lesser extent David Haye being the only exceptions.

Lewis was the guy from 1999 to the early 2000s, Wlad reigned for 10 years at the top, then you had fury/aj/Wilder for what 5 years or so and we have had a couple of years of Usyk.

So it's like 23 years of super heavyweights 2 years of usyk

So no, it's not a myth but there is exceptions

You definitely have a point there. Super heavyweights for sure have dominated most of the 2000s. No denying that. So far the data supports that.

But what’s impressive about Usyk’s run to me is that he didn’t just beat AJ/Fury in one off fights. He thoroughly beat them across 3 fights. That kind of lays down a blueprint and I think that could go a long way to change the mindset. Although it could also be that he’s just the exception as you said.

Also strictly if we’re going be weight only, Wilder would also fall in into the 225>= category. Although frame wise yes he’s got a lot in common with super heavies.

[HandsofIron]

Not quite, the Klitschkos are Super Heavyweights who weighed 250+ lbs and they dominated the Heavyweight division for over a decade.

All we learned from this fight is that Usyk is a fantastic fighter and Fury is a disgrace to boxing, despite his height and weight advantage.

[qad]

Not quite, the Klitschkos are Super Heavyweights who weighed 250+ lbs and they dominated the Heavyweight division for over a decade.

All we learned from this fight is that Usyk is a fantastic fighter and Fury is a disgrace to boxing, despite his height and weight advantage.

Yes I mentioned the Klitschkos in the OP. I wasn’t arguing against the SuperHeavies. Rather I was simply saying that smaller heavyweights have room to sit on the table as dominant champions as well.

Although it remains to be seen if we could see this happen more often or if Usyk truly is just a huge exception.

[Atypicalbrit]

Yes I mentioned the Klitschkos in the OP. I wasn’t arguing against the SuperHeavies. Rather I was simply saying that smaller heavyweights have room to sit on the table as dominant champions as well.

Although it remains to be seen if we could see this happen more often or if Usyk truly is just a huge exception.

I think Usyk's style works very well against the super heavyweights however he'd have more trouble with the "smaller" super heavyweights.

Lennox Lewis, Rid**** Bowe, guys of that size who have more dynamism and faster hands.

Personally I don't rate Usyk that amazingly, like I think he's excellent don't get me wrong, but I think this era is stacked with guys who have great strength and great weakness both, Usyk is the most consistent and well rounded of what we have now and that's what's getting him through, I thought he won tonight on conditioning.

I may sound harsh, but I always look at performances from all angles and don't get carried away in the emotion of the moment, some of the stuff I saw in the mid rounds from Usyk was alarming, there's no other way to put it. Maybe it's an age thing.