UK Boxing
Inside Usyk’s crazy training camp, which included handstands, sitting underwater and Christmas songs
Published
2 days agoon
Oleksandr Usyk has never stuck to convention throughout his iconic career, and it looks like his preparation for his rematch with Tyson Fury is no different. After overtaking his rival in February last year, the pair return to Saudi Arabia this weekend, where the Ukrainian puts his world title on the line.
The 37-year-old is one of only three boxers in history to unify divisions in two different weight classes, and his professional record of 22 fights remains undefeated.
His final training camp took place in Gandia, Spain, hidden from the spotlight as he sought to cement his status as the best heavyweight of his generation.
According to , Usyk once again used unusual methods in his preparations. His gym reportedly has an “Undisputed” banner on the wall along with photos of the former Olympic gold medalist attacking Fury during their first fight.
But that doesn’t begin to tell the story of a camp that went far beyond sparring and pounding punching bags. Usyk is well known for his love of sports outside of boxing, and he clearly shares that concept again.
Apparently he combines training in the ring with cardio work and tennis. Drawing on the work of sports scientist Jakub Chycki, Usyk was also at the pool to support him prepare.
“We implemented a lot of modern things in this camp” – who said? “Jakub Chycki does it. We walk on our hands for 15 minutes to build strength. We run, we swim.
“And we are sitting underwater. We’ve reached the point where we can sit underwater for 10 minutes, which really improves my fitness, stamina, and breathing while fighting.
But Usyk isn’t ignoring the holiday season either. It was also claimed that he sang several Christmas carols during his performance while wearing a Santa hat to prove that he had not lost his sense of perspective ahead of what could be the defining evening of his career.
It’s not unusual for the former undisputed cruiserweight king, who was seen serving on the front lines during Russia’s first invasion of Ukraine, to combine official duties with pleasure. He has previously shown his love for juggling and also regularly plays football at local club level.
For his part, Fury was uncharacteristically tranquil during the preparations. The Gypsy King is known for his mind games before large fights, in which he regularly mocks Usyk before their first fight, but this time he apparently remained quiet
You may like
UK Boxing
Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2 – substantial fight preview and predictions
Published
2 hours agoon
December 18, 2024Oleksandr Usyk will defend his WBC, WBA “super”, WBO and IBO heavyweight crowns against Tyson Fury in a long-awaited rematch at the Kingdom Arena in Riyad on Saturday.
Usyk vs Fury 2 is available on pay-per-view in the UK on Sky Sports, TNT Sports and DAZN, and on DAZN pay-per-view in the US.
This is a repeat of May’s meeting between two of the world’s top heavyweights, and many were skeptical of Usyk (22-0, 14 KO) as the smaller fighter in the original fight.
The Ukrainian implemented a fantastic game plan in Riyad, taking the best of Fury before devastating his fighter, defeating the ‘Gypsy King’ in the ninth round to win the title split decision become the undisputed champion.
After winning the same cruiserweight accolade, the 36-year-old rose to the occasion against Anthony Joshua in September 2021, earning well-deserved points in Tottenham to become the unified heavyweight king.
The split decision rematch victory came before Usyk knocked out Daniel Dubois, and that victory led to undisputed greatness against Fury.
“The Cat” gave up his IBF crown to arrange a second fight with Fury, and the aforementioned Dubois became the IBF champion.
Fury (34-1-1, 24 KO) won the unified heavyweight title in 2015, dethroning the great Wladimir Klitschko, but his life spiraled and he embarked on a monumental comeback that took him back to the top, winning the WBC belt after stoppage of Deontay Wilder’s seventh-round rematch in February 2020.
The 36-year-old repeated the trick in the trilogy match, defending against Dillian Whyte and Derek Chisora, who both had success on stoppages.
The Briton then had to embarrassingly leave the ring before delivering a very razor-sharp verdict on boxing newcomer Francis Ngannou before he faced Usyk last October.
Bohachuk fights Davis
The next 12-rounder on the card will see super welterweight contender Serhiy Bohachuk in action against Leeds’ Ishmael Davis, who replaces Israil Madrimov, who withdrew due to illness.
Bohachuk (24-2, 23 KO) lost a majority decision to Vergil Ortiz Jr in August for the WBC interim title, where he scored two knockdowns, while Davis (13-1, 6 KO) sent Josh Kelly into a frenzy in a losing effort. his own majority verdict in September, another fight he took up belatedly.
Itauma meets McKean
Moses Itauma (10-0, 8 KO) continues his rapid rise to the top and should have a chance to defeat Australian Demsey McKean (22-1, 14 KO) on the schedule, with McKean having not been seen since a last-round stoppage in his meeting with Filip Hrgovic in August last year.
Fisher argues with Allen
Johnny Fisher continues his education against the experienced and popular Dave Allen.
Fisher (12-0, 11 KO) scored an impressive first-round stoppage over Alen Babic in July, while Allen (23-6-2, 18 KO) has recorded two wins since suffering a retirement loss to Frazer last September Clark in the sixth round.
McGrail comes face to face with Edwards
Peter McGrail was scheduled to face Dennis McCann in an intriguing match, but McCann was pulled out after unfavorable pre-fight VADA test results.
Rhys Edwards (16-0, 4 KO) has been preparing to fight Lyon Woodstock and is entering the fray in no time.
(10-1, 6 KOs)
Undercard remaining
Andrii Novytskyi (13-0, 10 KO) should defend his WBC International title, defeating Edgar Ramirez (10-1-1, 4 KO) first.
In the delicate heavyweight division, Daniel Lapin (10-0, 4 KO) can achieve his fifth victory in the initial phase of the fight against undefeated Frenchman Dylan Colin (14-0, 4 KO).
In a breakthrough featherweight fight, I’m banking on Lee McGregor (14-1-1, 11 KO) to defeat Isaac Lowe (25-2-3, 8 KO) and put victory on the scorecards.
Mohammed Alakel (1-0) should score points in the fight against Joshua Ocampo (8-33-5, 6 KO).
UK Boxing
Oleksandr Usyk shares the incredible moment Tyson Fury fight result was shared on the front line
Published
15 hours agoon
December 17, 2024As brave soldiers fought on the front lines, radios roared with unchanging on the battlefield. These brave units, defending Ukraine against the invading Russian forces, on the night of May 18 this year. they were waiting for further instructions or warnings about incoming missiles.
They are hailed as national heroes who risk their lives to protect their borders from Vladimir Putin’s troops. Oleksandr Usyk understands this perfectly, he has friends on the front line and has witnessed the horrors himself.
But life also goes on beyond the grim reality of war, and they were also eager to hear about their hero Usyk’s other fight against Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia. “Let me tell you one story,” Usyk, 37, said when asked if he had spoken to the fighters since the victory over Furia.
“This is the front line where the fighting takes place. And the people on the second line have special communications connecting them to the front lines on the battlefield. They have nicknames like: “Rocket, Rocket, can you hear me?” intonation, when they first picked up the phone, they said, “Yes, yes, what’s going on?” What do we have to do? [thinking it was an emergency]but then they got the news that Usyk was the undisputed champion and they started cheering: “Oh yes! All right!'”
In what must have been an incredibly moving time for those who longed for a glimmer of hope in the trenches, the brutal truth remains that Usyk was able to return to his loved ones after his victories, but he cannot take them back to his Ukrainian home. His partner Yekaterina and their children Mykhailo, Kyrylo and Yelizaveta had to leave Ukraine in featherlight of the current crisis, and Usyk kept their whereabouts a secret for security reasons.
Ringside, Ekaterina witnessed Usyk’s best Fury, recording his first defeat and allowing Usyk to win the undisputed heavyweight title – a moment they celebrated away from the public eye with their children, who were nervously watching TV in their short-lived apartment. “They were very scared and nervous, my two boys and my daughter,” Usyk commented.
However, when they saw their father again, the children’s spirits improved. “They said I was a real legend now,” recalls the humble former cruiserweight champion, although he modestly disagrees. “I said, ‘Mm, no.’ They said ‘yes, yes’.
The humility with which Usyk views his achievements was evident when boxing icon Lennox Lewis, the last before Usyk to become undisputed heavyweight champion in 1999, visited Usyk’s training camp in Spain ahead of his long-awaited rematch with Fury in Riyad. Despite winning the heavyweight crown after defeating Fury in early May, the reigning champion was honored and clearly impressed in the presence of his esteemed predecessor.
“It was great,” Usyk said. “I once watched him fight on TV. Now Lennox Lewis is in my camp watching my sparring. I said, ‘Wow, hey, Lennox. Do you miss boxing, do you miss preparations?». – Yes of course.
“Listen, it was great. I made a poster. I said, “Hey, Master, please sign for both of my sons.” My wife’s father said, ‘Oh my God, Lennox Lewis, please sign and take a picture.’
Perhaps Lewis should have asked Usyk for his autograph. “Just my shirt,” he joked with a smile. It is an extreme display of humility on Usyk’s part that he does not consider himself a legend despite being an Olympic gold medalist, world and European amateur champion, and the undisputed king of both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions, undefeated in 22 professional fights. And he clearly serves as an inspiration to those in his homeland who are trying to stand up to Russia. “Legend,” he said. “It’s very high class. I don’t like it. I just like being a plain guy. I don’t want others to think of me as an icon. I don’t need it.”
UK Boxing
Tyson Fury announced that he would end Oleksandr Usyk’s career in a rematch
Published
19 hours agoon
December 17, 2024Tyson Fury announced such a decisive victory over Oleksandr Usyk that the Ukrainian will never step into a boxing ring again.
Fury wants to take revenge for the first defeat of his career when he faces Usyk for the second time on Saturday in Riyad.
“The Gypsy King” suffered, among others, loss of split decision in May, and Usyk became the undisputed heavyweight champion.
Fury will have no chance of winning the undisputed title on Saturday after Usyk relinquished the IBF belt, currently held by Daniel Dubois.
Fury insists he wants to end the 37-year-old’s career when they fight for the WBC, WBA and WBO titles.
“I will definitely make him feel 37 years aged,” Fury said Queensberry Promotions.
– He’ll be there with the Gypsy King, not whoever I was last time.
“I had a very good camp.
“I sparred more than I had in years and was able to do the things I’ve always been able to do, which is push myself.
“I would be first if I wasn’t able to fight and all that, I wouldn’t want to go in there and risk getting beaten up for a few extra pounds that I wouldn’t be able to do anything with anyway.
“So if I didn’t feel like I wasn’t the same person, I would be the first to say, ‘You know what, I’ve had enough.’
“But I don’t. I’m very far from that.
“I feel very good and I can’t wait for Saturday’s fight.
“I’m going to end him, end his career.
“You will never hear from Oleksandr Usyk again after this.”
The Briton had a disastrous ninth round, in which, after falling into the rope several times, he counted standing, which turned out to be decisive for the result.
Saudi Arabia’s boxing boss, Turki Alalshikh he supported the 36-year-old in winning the rematch and was already planning to create a trilogy between this pair.
Terence Crawford at 154, heavyweight, more: Boxing rankings
Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2 – substantial fight preview and predictions
Daniel Dubois WARNED BY FORMER TEAM-MATE: ‘JOE PARKER will CAUSE YOU PROBLEMS!!’
Trending
-
MMA7 months ago
Max Holloway is on a mission at UFC 212
-
Interviews2 months ago
Carl Froch predicts that Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol
-
MMA7 months ago
Cris Cyborg ready to add a UFC title to her collection
-
Interviews2 months ago
Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol
-
MMA7 months ago
The Irish showed up in droves at the Mayweather-McGregor weigh-in
-
Boxing5 months ago
Lucas Bahdi ready to test his skills against Ashton Sylve
-
Interviews7 months ago
I fell in love with boxing again
-
Opinions & Features2 months ago
Dmitry Bivol: The story so far