Connect with us

Featured Articles

Usyk vs. Chisora Sets the Table for a Strong Night of Boxing

Published

on

Usyk-vs-Chisora-Sets-the-Table-for-a-Strong-Night-of-Boxing

It’s been largely lost in the ragout, at least on this side of the pond, but Saturday’s busy fight docket includes the return of Oleksandr Usyk, the former Olympic gold medalist who left the cruiserweight ranks as a legitimate four-belt champion. The 33-year-old Usyk (17-0, 13 KOs), opposes tough but erratic Dereck Chisora, a 36-year old Londoner by way of Zimbabwe. Chisora (32-9, 23 KOs), has won five of his last six, the setback occurring in his second encounter with arch-rival Dillian Whyte.

Usyk vs. Chisora, a Matchroom promotion, will play out at Wembley Arena with no fans in attendance. The Ukrainian southpaw is ranked among the top three heavyweight contenders by all four major sanctioning bodies although he has fought only once as a heavyweight, turning away under-trained late sub Chazz Witherspoon who was all in after seven frames. Usyk weighed 215 for that contest and is expected to come in about 230 for Chisora.

Usyk, who has anglicized his first name to Alexander on his English-language twitter feed, is a big favorite, but this is a tricky fight for him. The consensus 2018 Fighter of the Year, Usyk has fought only twice since unifying the cruiserweight title with a lopsided decision over Murat Gassiev in July of that year and 55 weeks have elapsed since his last start. If he needs the early rounds to shake off ring rust, he could find himself clawing out of a hole, and sometimes the hole is too deep as Usyk’s stablemate Vasiliy Lomachenko can attest. Moreover, Usyk has yet to face a naturally bigger man who can bang as hard as “Del Boy.”

The Usyk-Chisora card will air in North America on DAZN with the main event ring walks anticipated about 6 pm ET.

The tiff is hitched to an interesting undercard. Once-beaten Welshman Lee Selby, briefly the IBF featherweight champion, tangles with Australia’s undefeated (18-0) George Kambosos Jr. Savannah Marshall, who saddled Claressa Shields with her only amateur loss, meets former Shields opponent Hannah Rankin with a vacant world middleweight title at stake, Belfast’s Tommy McCarthy opposes Belgium’s Bilal Laggoune for a domestic cruiserweight title, and then there’s the heavyweight fight attracting buzz between popular Yorkshireman David Allen and Christopher Lovejoy.

The buzz surrounds the mysterious 36-year-old Lovejoy who is 19-0 as a pro with all but two of those KOs coming in the opening round.

All of Lovejoy’s fights were staged in Tijuana. Only one of his opponents brought a winning record. For a certain stripe of fighter, Tijuana is the equivalent of a feed lot, a place where livestock go to get fattened up before they are sent off to the slaughterhouse. David Allen is limited, but the most likely scenario in this fight is that it ends with Lovejoy sitting on his stool.

Check out more boxing news on video at the Boxing Channel 

To comment on this post in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE

Share The Sweet Science experience!
Advertisement
Thomas-Hauser's-Literary-Notes-Johnny-Greaves-Tells-a-Sad-Tale
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Thomas Hauser’s Literary Notes: Johnny Greaves Tells a Sad Tale

Boxing-Notes-and-Nuggets-from-Thomas-Hauser
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Boxing Notes and Nuggets from Thomas Hauser

Undercard-Results-and-Recaps-from-the-Inoue-Cardenas-Show-in-Las-Vegas
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Undercard Results and Recaps from the Inoue-Cardenas Show in Las Vegas

Canelo-Alvarez-Upends-Dancing-Machine-William-Scull-in-Saudi-Arabia
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Canelo Alvarez Upends Dancing Machine William Scull in Saudi Arabia

Bombs-Away-in-Las-Vegas-where-Inoue-and-Espinoza-Scored-Smashing-Triumphs
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Bombs Away in Las Vegas where Inoue and Espinoza Scored Smashing Triumphs

Arne's-Almanac-The-Good-the-Bad-and-the-(mostly)-Ugly-A-Weeend-Boxing-Recap-and-More
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Arne’s Almanac: The Good, the Bad, and the (Mostly) Ugly; a Weekend Boxing Recap and More

Ekow-Essuman-Upsets-Josh-Taylor-and-Moses-Itauma-Blasts-Out-Mike-Balogun-in-Glasgow
Featured Articles1 week ago

Ekow Essuman Upsets Josh Taylor and Moses Itauma Blasts Out Mike Balogun in Glasgow

Stephen-Breadman-Edwards-An-Unlikely-Boxing-Coach-with-a-Panoramic-View-of-the-Sport
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

“Breadman” Edwards: An Unlikely Boxing Coach with a Panoramic View of the Sport

Avila-Perspective-Chap-326-Top-Rank-and-San-Diego-Smoke
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 326: Top Rank and San Diego Smoke

Late-Bloomer-Anthony-Cacace-TKOs-Hometown-Favorite-Leigh-Wood-in-Nottingham
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Late Bloomer Anthony Cacace TKOs Hometown Favorite Leigh Wood in Nottingham

Argentina's-Fernando-Martinez-Wins-His-Rematch-with-Kazuto-Ioka
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Argentina’s Fernando Martinez Wins His Rematch with Kazuto Ioka

Emanuel-Navarrete-Survives-a-Bloody-Battle-with-Charly-Suarez-in-San-Diego
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Emanuel Navarrete Survives a Bloody Battle with Charly Suarez in San Diego

Sam-Goodman-and-Eccentric-Harry-Garside-Score-Wins-on-a-Wednesday-Card-in-Sydney
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Sam Goodman and Eccentric Harry Garside Score Wins on a Wednesday Card in Sydney

Newspaperman-Playwright-Author-Bobby-Cassidy-Jr-Commemorates-his-Fighting-Father
Featured Articles6 days ago

Newspaperman/Playwright/Author Bobby Cassidy Jr Commemorates His Fighting Father

Avila-Perspective-Chap-326-A-Hectic-Boxing-Week-in-LA
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 326: A Hectic Boxing Week in L.A.

Hiruta-Bohachuk-and-Trinidad-Win-at-the-Commerce-Casino
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Hiruta, Bohachuk, and Trinidad Win at the Commerce Casino

David-Allen-Bursts-Johnny-Fisher's-Bubble-at-the-Copper-Box
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

David Allen Bursts Johnny Fisher’s Bubble at the Copper Box

Italy-Mourns-the-Death-of-Legendary-Boxer-Nino-Benvenuti
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Italy Mourns the Death of Legendary Boxer Nino Benvenuti

in-A-Trubute-Wedded-to-Memorial-Day-Boxing-Writer-David-Avila-Pays-Homage-to-Absent-Friends
Featured Articles1 week ago

In a Tribute Wedded to Memorial Day, Boxing Writer David Avila Pays Homage to Absent Friends

A-Night-of-Mismatches-Turns-Topsy-Turvy-at-Mandalay-Bay-Resendiz-Shocks-Plant
Featured Articles2 days ago

A Night of Mismatches Turns Topsy-Turvy at Mandalay Bay; Resendiz Shocks Plant

Remembering-the-Under-Appreciated-Body-Snatcher-Mike-McCallum,-a-Conusmmate-Pro
Featured Articles22 hours ago

Remembering the Under-Appreciated “Body Snatcher” Mike McCallum, a Consummate Pro    

A-Night-of-Mismatches-Turns-Topsy-Turvy-at-Mandalay-Bay-Resendiz-Shocks-Plant
Featured Articles2 days ago

A Night of Mismatches Turns Topsy-Turvy at Mandalay Bay; Resendiz Shocks Plant

Results-and-Recaps-from-Las-Vegas-Where-Melikuziev-Nipped-Fulghum-in-a-Fierce-Fight
Featured Articles3 days ago

Results and Recaps from Las Vegas Where Melikuziev Nipped Fulghum in a Fierce Battle

Avila-Perspective-Chap-228-Viva-Las-Vegas-Back-in-the-Boxing-Spotlight
Featured Articles4 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 228: Viva Las Vegas, Back in the Boxing Spotlight

Vinny-Paz-is-Going-into-the-Boxing-Hall-of-Fame-Hey-why-Not-Roger-Mayweather?
Featured Articles5 days ago

Vinny Paz is Going into the Boxing Hall of Fame; Hey, Why Not Roger Mayweather?

Newspaperman-Playwright-Author-Bobby-Cassidy-Jr-Commemorates-his-Fighting-Father
Featured Articles6 days ago

Newspaperman/Playwright/Author Bobby Cassidy Jr Commemorates His Fighting Father

Ekow-Essuman-Upsets-Josh-Taylor-and-Moses-Itauma-Blasts-Out-Mike-Balogun-in-Glasgow
Featured Articles1 week ago

Ekow Essuman Upsets Josh Taylor and Moses Itauma Blasts Out Mike Balogun in Glasgow

Angelo-Leo-Retains-His-Featherweight-Title-Before-a-Hostile-Crowd-in-Osaka
Featured Articles1 week ago

Angelo Leo Retains His Featherweight Title Before a Hostile Crowd in Osaka

in-A-Trubute-Wedded-to-Memorial-Day-Boxing-Writer-David-Avila-Pays-Homage-to-Absent-Friends
Featured Articles1 week ago

In a Tribute Wedded to Memorial Day, Boxing Writer David Avila Pays Homage to Absent Friends

Local-Fan-Favorites-Terri-Harpet-and-Maxi-Hughes-Victorious-in-Doncaster
Featured Articles1 week ago

Local Fan Favorites Terri Harper and Maxi Hughes Victorious in Doncaster

Italy-Mourns-the-Death-of-Legendary-Boxer-Nino-Benvenuti
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Italy Mourns the Death of Legendary Boxer Nino Benvenuti

Boxing-Notes-and-Nuggets-from-Thomas-Hauser
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Boxing Notes and Nuggets from Thomas Hauser

Hiruta-Bohachuk-and-Trinidad-Win-at-the-Commerce-Casino
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Hiruta, Bohachuk, and Trinidad Win at the Commerce Casino

David-Allen-Bursts-Johnny-Fisher's-Bubble-at-the-Copper-Box
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

David Allen Bursts Johnny Fisher’s Bubble at the Copper Box

Avila-Perspective-Chap-326-A-Hectic-Boxing-Week-in-LA
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 326: A Hectic Boxing Week in L.A.

Sam-Goodman-and-Eccentric-Harry-Garside-Score-Wins-on-a-Wednesday-Card-in-Sydney
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Sam Goodman and Eccentric Harry Garside Score Wins on a Wednesday Card in Sydney

Thomas-Hauser's-Literary-Notes-Johnny-Greaves-Tells-a-Sad-Tale
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Thomas Hauser’s Literary Notes: Johnny Greaves Tells a Sad Tale

Argentina's-Fernando-Martinez-Wins-His-Rematch-with-Kazuto-Ioka
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Argentina’s Fernando Martinez Wins His Rematch with Kazuto Ioka

Emanuel-Navarrete-Survives-a-Bloody-Battle-with-Charly-Suarez-in-San-Diego
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Emanuel Navarrete Survives a Bloody Battle with Charly Suarez in San Diego

Late-Bloomer-Anthony-Cacace-TKOs-Hometown-Favorite-Leigh-Wood-in-Nottingham
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Late Bloomer Anthony Cacace TKOs Hometown Favorite Leigh Wood in Nottingham

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending