Oleksandr Usyk: "Our Opponents Also Find Sparring Partners Through Ready to Fight"

The holder of the WBA, WBC, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles Oleksandr Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs) discussed his preparation for the rematch with Tyson Fury (34-1-1, 24 KOs), scheduled for December 21 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

– Oleksandr, how did the camp start?

– Everything is great, thank God. The mood is good, and the team is assembled. There’s plenty to work on. I’m grateful to God and happy to be in training camp.

– Have you found that drive that motivates you to get up every day?

– One half of my drive is in Kyiv, the second half is somewhere in Europe, and the third half is here with me. So my drive is with me every day.

– I know you turned off all notifications and social media at the start of the training camp. Aren't you curious about what people say about you online?

– Not at all. If they’re talking about me online, that’s their interest, not mine. Yes, it’s distracting and takes up a lot of time. During the day, you spend a lot of time on social media, which just robs you of time. When you don’t use them, you fill your head with useful information: books, learning something new, and it really helps you focus on the work you’re doing.

– What’s new in your preparation this time? Will it be like last time?

– Each preparation is different. We’re involving scientists, new psychologists—science meets sports. Many don’t understand this, but we know what we’re doing. I know this will help me be better in the second fight with Tyson Fury.

– In your last camp before the first fight, you had over 500 sparring rounds. Will this camp be just as intense?

– It’s not just about quantity but also quality. The last camp was such that we had over 500 rounds of sparring. In this camp, I think it may be about the same, but I don’t know because the training commission and my coach Yuriy Ivanovych set the tasks. They set the goals, and I accomplish them. If I don’t like them, I might grumble at first, but then I have to get it done.

– You announced the search for sparring partners through the Ready to Fight platform. Are previous partners not enough?

– We’re not only currently finding sparring partners through Ready to Fight for our training. This seems to be the third or fourth gathering for us. And not just us—our opponents also find their sparring partners through the Ready to Fight platform.

– Who can become a sparring partner? Do they need to be a professional boxer, or can they be an amateur?

– There’s no difference whether they’re pros or amateurs. We will attract anyone who meets Tyson Fury’s criteria. We definitely need to see their work, sparring, or some kind of training, and the coaching staff will say, ‘Yes, this one is needed’ or ‘No, this one doesn’t fit.’ Sometimes guys who seem suitable come in, but when they get in the ring, it’s clear in the first round that they’re not doing what’s needed.

They might stay for another week to work and maybe produce something, but if that doesn’t happen, payment is made, and they go home. It’s all fair. We’re not keeping those who don’t help us, like, ‘Oh, we feel sorry for him; he’ll be in our camp.’ No, this is a professional team with professional people.

– What do you value most in your sparring sessions?

– Just like in my team: discipline, completing the work, dedication during training, and human qualities.