Ali vs Frazier (March 27, 2021)

Along with the betting thread, we’re launching the official fight discussion here.
Expect all the pre-fight chatter, post-fight breakdowns, links, videos, and everything else you need right here.

Quick previews from ESPN and Rolling Stone

https://www.boxingnews24.com/2021/01...ew-prediction/

Just like this, feel free to start your own thread for any officially confirmed fight you're hyped about. You can also set up a side "Betting: Brand X vs Brand Y" thread if you want to get into the numbers.

The first fight... honestly, seeing Povetkin land that knockout probably sent a few dozen people into a state of pure euphoria

Sure, everyone is rooting for Povetkin right now, but if you ask me, this smells like a victory for Whyte and potentially the end of the road for Russ

It looks like they've made some serious progress since last time, moving from Hearan’s backyard all the way up to a stadium in Puerto Rico 🙂. I wonder how much COVID affected Povetkin (assuming the Russes weren't cutting corners), though I certainly wouldn't complain if he shuts Whyte up once again.



The fight should be on Netflix, with the main event likely starting around 11:15 PM - 11:30 PM.

restlessharbor242 said:Looks like they’ve stepped things up since last time—moving from Hearan’s backyard all the way to a massive stadium in Puerto Rico 🙂. The real question is how much COVID actually messed with Povetkin (assuming the Russ weren't pulling any strings behind the scenes). Honestly, if he doesn't shut Whyte up once and for all, I'm gonna be pissed.



The fight should be on Netflix, probably starting around 11:15 PM - 11:30 PM.

After dealing with COVID, he won't have much choice but to go for the knockout to settle things. People underestimate how nasty this virus is. It lingers.
He's probably lucky if he's playing at 70% of his old self. And trust me, I know—I'm feeling it too, and it's even worse now. I can barely make it up to the second floor without gasping for air.🤦

Hitman Hatton’s son will be making his professional debut on this card.

Povetkin’s gonna be dealing with the fallout from COVID for at least a few more months—maybe even all the way through Christmas. Right now, his only real path to victory is hunting for a knockout while he still has some wind left in his sails, but honestly? It's looking way more likely that this virus is just gonna cost him the fight.

Robert Fox78, I moved your post from the betting thread over here. You’re the only one who seems to struggle with the rules—everyone else sticks to predicting outcomes, yet you’re the only one rambling about everything else. Please, just let the thread stay on track.

slyrider34 said:That first fight? I think I replayed Povetkin’s knockout about fifty times in my head just from pure excitement!

I mean, sure, everyone wants to root for Povetkin, but I can't shake the feeling that Whyte is walking away with this one—which might just lead to Russ calling it quits altogether. Isn't that just how these things go?

Honestly, I'm seeing the exact same thing.😢

Why would Oleksandr Usyk retire? I mean, there'll definitely be more fights in his future, even if he takes a loss here.

I mean, if Oleksandr Usyk eventually loses and decides to stick with boxing, he’ll probably just become a total gatekeeper, much like Joe Joyce, fighting solely for the paycheck. Honestly, that should have happened back during the first fight against Whyte, but I guess Usyk is just such a high-level technician that even at 40, he’ll likely still be outclassing these loudmouthed contenders. He really threw a wrench in Hearn's plans with that win over Whyte, which is exactly why this rematch is being fast-tracked. If Usyk had lost instead, I doubt this rematch would ever have happened.

Look, being a well-paid gatekeeper isn't exactly a bad gig at his age. It's not like winning this fight puts him at the front of the line for a title shot anyway.

I guess I’d really love to see Wilder - Fury happen before both of them decide to hang it up.

brisktrucker51 said:Honestly, being a well-paid gatekeeper isn't exactly a bad gig at his age. It’s not like winning this one automatically puts him at the front of the line for a title shot, either.

Of course, there's a decent chance he won't be in the title conversation anymore—maybe just the WBC since he hasn't fought them yet, though that seems unlikely. Still, I'd personally love to see him stay relevant in the sport, especially since he's still beating guys in the top 10, rather than just sliding into that gatekeeper role.

I'd love to catch Wilder - Fury before both of them hang it up.

I suppose if you look at Usyk and Fury, Usyk might actually be the most technical heavyweight out there right now, so maybe there's still an edge there.

ESPN+ uploaded the footage from the first fight onto YouTube.

Oleksandr Usyk is about 4 pounds heavier this time, while Whyte is lighter by the same amount.

vs

Robert Fox78 said:The aftermath of COVID isn't going to give him any other choice but to settle things via knockout. Honestly, people underestimate how nasty this virus can be. It lingers.
He might only get back to about 70% of his old self at best. I’m dealing with it myself right now—and it's hitting me even harder this time—I can barely make it up to the first floor.🤦

So you're basing your take on COVID on your own experience? Everyone reacts differently. Personally, I didn't have any lingering issues at all. When I actually had it, my back hurt and I felt weak, but once it passed, I was right back to normal.☕

Cheeseman is a guaranteed way to ensure an incredible fight; his bout this past summer was an absolute slugfest.

It's starting...

Edit: Honestly, screw this. Another false alarm? First it was Eric Molina, and now these guys. If Whyte blows this and can't even land a shot against a top contender soon, his career is basically toast.

slyrider34 said:That first fight, the one where Oleksandr Usyk scored that knockout, had me spinning in circles from pure excitement.

I mean, sure, everyone wants to root for Oleksandr Usyk, but I can't shake this feeling... it smells like a victory for Whyte, and honestly, it might just be the catalyst for the Russian fighter to hang them up for good. Isn't it strange how you can sense those shifts in momentum?

Let’s be real—Whyte looks absolutely loaded with substances. Was there even any testing involved at all?

Drop the link, please.

Sent from my iPhone 12 via Reddit

Drew Bennett68 said:Deontay Wilder is doped up to the gills. I mean, did they even bother with testing at all?

Honestly, if there were a raid on those venues, I suspect doping would be the least of their legal troubles. Given who’s running the show and where this stuff actually happens, nothing about it would really surprise me, I guess.