Oleksandr Usyk like Tyson Fury is a veteran in the sport at this point and has seen it all in boxing.
He is the ultimate road warrior travelling and battering his way through the world to amass a 22-0-14 KO record to date. At 37 Usyk is in his prime. So is Fury.
Ahead of his heavyweight title defense this weekend speaking to The Stomping Ground Podcast he said:
“Charlie Parsons: How are you feeling?
Alexander: I feel good.
Charlie Parsons: You’re always in good spirits. How was camp?
Alexander: It was great. We trained in warm weather, and everything was okay.
Charlie Parsons: Talk to me a little bit about this fight. It was made right after the last one. You went straight into it this time—everything all systems go. Do you think Tyson Fury will be bigger, stronger? Do you think he’ll try to impose his power on you more than he did in the last fight?
Alexander: I don’t think about Tyson Fury. I only focus on my condition and how I feel.
Charlie Parsons: You always seem to get better every time we see you. Do you believe that will be the case on Saturday night?
Alexander: Yes.
Charlie Parsons: Why is that?
Alexander: Because I work hard. My team helps me become better. After the first fight, we prepared for a long time. I didn’t rest. Maybe I took two or three weeks off, but then I went back to the gym.
Charlie Parsons: After this fight, if you win—and I’ll say when you win—it feels like there’s no one left for you to fight. Does that mean you’ll hang up the gloves, go back to playing soccer, and score goals in the Ukrainian pro league? Or are there still more fights out there for you? You’ve fought everyone.
Alexander: I’m going to continue boxing. I’ll keep training. Maybe I’ll take a rest—three or four months. I want to play with my team, Polissya. Then I’ll come back to the boxing gym.
Charlie Parsons: Who else is there for you to fight?
Alexander: I don’t know. We’ll see when the time comes.
Charlie Parsons: What did you make of Turki Alalshikh’s FaceTime call? He said he wants a trilogy. What are your thoughts?
Alexander: If that’s what Turki wants, okay. But it doesn’t bother me. No.
Charlie Parsons: So, in general, life is good? You’re happy? What do you think happens Saturday night? Do you feel stronger? Last time, you nearly knocked Tyson Fury out in the ninth round. Do you feel like you need to do that this time?
Alexander: Listen, my friend. Right now, I’m not thinking about boxing or my fight. I’m relaxed. I’m talking to you. It’s media day.
Charlie Parsons: So you don’t want to think about boxing right now?
Alexander: No, now I just want tea. Tea with honey.
Charlie Parsons: Finally, do you have a message for the Ukrainians back home who are supporting you ahead of Saturday night?
Alexander: To all my fans, I love you. Thank you so much.
Charlie Parsons: And one last thing—will you knock Tyson Fury out?
Alexander: I will win.
Charlie Parsons: Alexander, thank you very much for your time.”
Interesting to see how relaxed he is mentally, not even thinking about boxing yet.
Showing that he won’t really switch on to fight mode until fight day itself next Saturday.
Fury will be similar most likely.
Interesting that he doesn’t plan on retiring from boxing anytime soon either and why would he, he is enjoying his boxing and there’s plenty of big fights in the years ahead for him.
Mentally he is focused on himself, which is the right mentality of course.
What a fight in store this weekend, truly, one of the biggest heavyweight title fights of all time.
