By Jerry PDX
sunday, may 19, 2024 at 8:44:00 p.m. edt
Oleksandr Usyk fulfills his destiny by becoming the first undisputed White heavyweight champion in the modern era, by defeating previously undefeated Tyson Fury:
Usyk is the first White man to be a true undisputed champ since the beginning of the alphabet title era. Fury and the Klitchko Bros. aren’t listed on the undisputed list. I believe they didn’t have the right unification bouts, so they didn’t quite qualify, even though they were legitimate champs.
It was a good fight, close but I agree that Usyk won. First six rounds were in favor of Fury but after that, Usyk had a clear edge. Fury was landing more early on because Usyk was staying out too far which enabled Fury to use his reach. After the 6th round, Fury’s best round where he had Usyk in trouble, Usyk pressed closer inside to negate the reach advantage and used his defensive skills to counter Fury’s attacks. Result was he rocked Fury in the 8th and nearly knocked him out, only the ref stepping in to count Fury out saved him. It was back and forth after that, but Usyk’s sneaky counter punching skills got him a split decision.
I don’t know how long Usyk will reign. He’s 37 years old (Fury is 35) but as a skill fighter may have a few years of fighting at the top level before retirement. Hope he doesn’t get too patriotic and volunteer to fight for the ukraine in the war. In a way I could understand why a man’s man might decide an athletic career is less important than his country (a la Pat Tillman) but it would be a shame to lose him before he has some chances to defend his title.
Question is, are there other White heavyweight boxing contenders to step in when Usyk retires? I scouted around and saw some european up-and-comers but no American ones.
N.S.: Jerry sent me a link to a video, but the poster had since pulled it to private.
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6 comments:
David in TN said...
Sunday, May 19, 2024 at 11:40:00 PM EDT
When Johnson, Louis, and Ali were heavyweight champions it was often trumpeted, "the heavyweight champion is the symbol of physical supremacy."
When White men started winning the Heavyweight Title in the 21st Century that slogan was never uttered.
There was a quick rebirth of boxing thanks to Fury and a similarly talented black boxer named Deontay Wilder.They brawled for at least two contests and I saw some of the action on youtube.
I've always liked boxing,but I had no idea this Fury/Usyk match was even happening until Friday.
Back in the "old days",this one might have been on regular tv(probably not),but the publicity for it was very low-key.
Supposedly a rematch is set to go in October.
--GRA
jerry pdx
You're right David. You never hear any of that anymore. What they say now is how the heavyweights of today aren't as good as the older (black) ones and how those classic fighters would eat their lunch. Of course, they said some similar things about how Ali wouldn't have been able to beat Rocky Marciano but that would be scoffed at by liberal sports commentators. Those same people don't scoff when they say Fury or the Klitcko's couldn't beat those past black champions.
"History was made"--in other words--but not reported by pro-black media,which chooses what "history" is newsworthy(and if Whitey does it,fuhgeddaboudit.)
--GRA
The Klitschko boys, Valuev, Tyson all champs. Undisputed I am not sure about. All Ivan Drago types. Big tall dudes and the colored guys have a lot of trouble with them.
OO--JIM OTTO,LEGENDARY CENTER FROM THE OAKLAND RAIDERS,DEAD AT 86.
GRA:With all his physical problems stemming from football,I'm shocked he was still around.
(Raiders.com.)As the autumn winds blew across the first 15 seasons of the Raiders franchise, there was a constant game in and game out.
Jim Otto was that constant, an all-star at center and the epitome of a great teammate. Otto, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, has died at the age of 86, the Raiders confirmed Sunday.
"The Raiders Family is in deep mourning following the passing of Jim Otto...The Original Raider," the club said in a statement. "The personification of consistency, Jim's influence on the American Football League and professional football as a whole cannot be overstated. His leadership and tenacity were a hallmark of the dominant Raider teams of the 1960s and 70s."
In an astounding feat, Otto played 210 straight regular-season games to begin and end his amazing career, which included 12 AFL All-Star/Pro Bowl selections and 10 All-Pro nods prior to his 1980 enshrinement in the Hall of Fame. Otto was a key member of the Silver and Black's first title win in 1967, as the Raiders captured the AFL Championship en route to an appearance in Super Bowl II.
With double-zero emblazoned across his chest and a trademark neckroll over his shoulders, Otto was very much the portrait of an offensive lineman. He was tough as shoe leather, a leader for a new franchise that became a proven winner and a steadfast teammate who paved the way for other Hall of Famers' glory.
Otto played alongside a parade of fellow Hall of Famers, combining with guard Gene Upshaw to form one of the finest combinations of interior offensive linemen in league lore. He also shared a roster with HOFers George Blanda, Willie Brown, Fred Biletnikoff, Art Shell, Bob Brown, Ken Stabler and more.
GRA:Never missed a game.A great,White player from the best days of the NFL.
--GRA
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