Oleksandr Usyk’s secret race with time

Posts and comments from boxing enthusiasts and superstars have put a weight on Oleksandr Usyk, which he must bear secretly and alone. The Ukrainian boxer has to finish the race ahead of time, but time is no longer on his side.

Oleksandr Usyk has to defend his unified titles against the WBC heavyweight champion either in December or early next year, but his recent statement showed he is anything but prepared. Recent happenings suggest he is going to need more than the 14 weeks he initially proposed. He is going to face a man most think is the best heavyweight boxer.

‘I can’t say that everything’s OK, but I’m fine,’ Usyk revealed. ‘Some wounds, old injuries need to be healed. Everything’s under control. I do my training sessions everyday, but I need 14 weeks for my camp. It would be enough time for me. The first weeks I’m doing my work that helps me to get ready for the training camp. Then I’m working hard for the next 12 weeks.’

In the wake of Usyk’s controversial win over Britain’s Daniel Dubois, Usyk’s mandatory IBF title challenger, Filip Hrgovic, had this to say about the Ukrainian’s performance.

‘I’m not impressed, I’m not impressed with anyone. He is a good fighter, of course, but I am a good fighter as well. I’ve had seventeen years in boxing, I’ve boxed with Olympic Champions, European Champions, World Champions, I’ve had a long career and sparred with everyone, so I feel like I can beat anyone. If I have a good camp, good focus and give my 100%, I know that I can beat anyone.

‘I don’t see anything special. I feel like Dubois had some good moments and counters, he just needed to throw more, he needed to be more aggressive. I think that I have that endurance, that speed and I can throw more to give him more trouble than Dubois or Joshua.’

Though Filip Hrgovic did not say what in particular he intended to do with the speedy attacks, he had no reason to say it since everyone was talking about it after Daniel Dubois knocked Usyk to the floor with a bodyshot that was controversially ruled a low blow.

Tyson Fury is one of those who have been making posts and comments on Oleksandr Usyk’s deficiency in dealing with bodyshots. Usyk is known to fall when struck with some bodyshots and is now going to meet a fighter who not only knew long ago but also made a video directing one of Usyk’s opponents beforehand on what to do.

Fury accompanied that video with this statement referring to Anthony Joshua: ‘Just another random Tuesday night with Andy Lee. This is how Anthony Joshua needs to attack Oleksandr Usyk’s body. I know the blown up-middleweight can’t take body shots.’

According to Dailystar, fans were saying things like:

• ‘Joshua hurt Usyk so bad with a body shot he pretended it was low to buy time. Does he have a glass body, and can Dubois exploit it.’
• ‘Same shot, same place, same ref! Next person to fight Usyk has to go for the body and they win!’
• ‘Cats out the bag, Usyk not the model pro he’s made out to be.’
• ‘Usyk can’t take body shots, so he cheats!’

‘I don’t know if [Usyk] is vulnerable to the body, but the face he is vulnerable too,’ Tyson Fury commented after Usyk controversially beat Dubois recently. ‘The body is like [quiting]. I saw something in Usyk the other day, he quit.

‘He quit like a little [expletive]. Then moaned about it, and cried about it for five minutes. So, he has quit once in my opinion, and what do I know I am only the world heavyweight champion.’

Fury believed that referee Luis Pabon’s decision to call Dubois’ punch as a low blow was wrong.

‘We all know that wasn’t a low blow,’ Fury had reacted. ‘Usyk got beat fair and square. He lost by knockout to a body shot, that crippled him. I feel [very] sorry for Daniel [Dubois] because he should be the unified world champion right.

‘He should be on course for the biggest payday that he will ever see, and I feel sad for him. That’s boxing, it won’t be the first time someone has been [expletive] out of something.’

Tyson Fury will have to defeat Francis Ngannou, an amateur professional boxer who was a former UFC heavyweight champion, before facing Oleksadr Usyk for the undisputed bout. Usyk will have to train his body to deal with Tyson Fury’s bodyshots, since he might not be helped by the referee this time. This is why the fighter might be needing 14 weeks or more.

There are jokes from Francis Ngannou’s trainer, the legendary Mike Tyson, that the UFC heavyweight should remember not to kick Fury in the ring. Tyson Fury has since added his own joke to the pile.

‘This is a boxing fight and it’s actually a proper boxing, sanctioned fight. If he starts doing anything stupid, he’ll get chucked out and disqualified. Game over. This is not a wrestling match, an MMA fight or a street fight. This is Queensbury rules. The greatest sport in history.

‘This is big time boxing, so welcome to big time boxing. Am I a heavy favourite? Two giant men swinging at each other and whoever lands first will go down? It’s very difficult to hit me even if you’ve got a handful of rice. He’s either gonna sink or swim and either way, I’m knocking him out.’

The fight is scheduled for October 28.

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