heavy weight Oleksandr Usyk highlighted the Ukrainian Cossack’s heritage ahead of his world title fight this Saturday (DAZN, 9:00 pm) against the British Anthony Joshuawhose career will be in jeopardy if he loses in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia).
Backed by millions of Ukrainians whose lives have been upended by the war, Usyk is the favorite to retain the WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight world titles, which he won a year ago in London against 32-year-old Joshua. . A victory achieved on points, by unanimous decision.
The massive Joshua (1.98 m against Usyk’s 1.91 m), a former heavyweight Olympic champion with 24 wins and two losses as a professional, was trained for several months by the renowned Robert García to develop a more aggressive body.
Usyk, 35, seemed more composed than his rival at Wednesday’s pre-fight news conference. Dressed in traditional costume, his head shaved except for a Cossack-style lock of hair, he sang a patriotic Ukrainian song to the world press.
The match will be exclusively broadcast free of charge in Ukraine. It’s another incentive for Usyk, who in February served as a volunteer in the Ukrainian army before accepting the rematch.
Promoter Alexander Krassyuk highlighted the great support of Ukrainians for Usyk: “He contacted high-ranking military officials, visited hospitals and met wounded soldiers. Every time he was told to fight the rematch that it. People want to fight,” he said.
At the press conference, Usyk followed his show with a test of efficiency, throwing four coins into the air with his hand and catching them one by one before they hit the ground.
The Ukrainian southpaw’s preparation was no less spectacular: he cycled 100 kilometers in 45 degrees Celsius, swam for five hours straight and held his breath for four minutes and 45 seconds until he nearly passed out, said his manager Egis Klimas.
“He looks like a cyborg. He’s been through hell in training camp for the last three months,” promoter Krassyuk said of Usyk, who has had a stellar amateur career and is undefeated in 19 professional bouts.
Joshua has not revealed anything about his strategy, but he is expected to try to use his size and length against a smaller opponent whose speed and striking range troubled him in September.
The Briton has shrugged off rumors that he could retire if he loses, but admits he cannot afford a third career flop. “I have to win. It’s been a tough preparation, but I like the pressure,” said Joshua.
Saudi Arabia has already smiled on the Watford man, in his rematch with Mexican Andy Ruiz Jr in December 2019. The latter beat him by technical KO a few months earlier, in the Briton’s first loss of his professional career.
One of the unknowns of the fight was the weight gain of Usyk, a former unified world heavyweight champion, who is said to have put on 30 pounds of muscle, giving him more power but creating the risk of slowing him down, a important trick in the first battle.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
