Boxing News: Oleksandr Usyk practises his human mechanics for a painful rematch with Anthony Joshua as he circled the ring in Dubai while reeling off hazy combinations.
Joshua was pulled through a thresher and nearly died on the ropes in the conclusion of Usyk’s brilliant victory in September, despite the fact that he is boxing’s winning machine and has gone 13 years unbeaten.
Usyk gathered his own collection of vicious sparring recruits for a covert training camp in the United Arab Emirates in response to the British star’s emboldening by a new trainer, Robert Garcia, who is hinting at unrestrained brutality.
Usyk’s highly guarded sessions were off-limits to fighter coaches, but Deontay Wilder trainer Malik Scott supplied guidance to the crop of sparring partners.
One of the heavyweights who received a call from Team Usyk was Raphael Akpejiori, a towering Nigerian fighter with a right hand that might rival Joshua’s in power.
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“I’m 6’9″, I have a fairly decent right hand, a good enough jab, and also I have a dominant personality in the boxing ring,” Akpejiori told Sky Sports.
“I think that’s why he reached out to me, to help him prepare for this fight.
“[I sparred] more than 40 rounds. When you step into the ring with somebody you have seen on television, a very influential and accomplished boxer, there is a level of respect.
“When you get in the ring after the first punches are thrown, you go back into your element. He feels your power and you feel his power and see the reason why he is the heavyweight champion of the world.
“You’re out here in a camp, in secret with the heavyweight champion of the world and you’re preparing for a huge mega fight.”
Usyk, a former cruiserweight champion, has endured mockery from opponents in the heavyweight division, including Tyson Fury, the recently retired WBC champion.
However, Usyk has enjoyed sparring with giants as he attempts to confound his larger adversaries with an endless barrage of punches.
“The thing about Usyk, he would run up his numbers on you,” said Akpejiori.
“By the end of the first round, you realise he is throwing about a hundred punches on you.
“He would do that for the next 11 rounds, with no slowing in tempo. That’s the kind of guy he is.
“I wouldn’t say he has the same punching power as Deontay Wilder has, but he has a speed that no heavyweight has. His tempo and his punch output are one that no other heavyweight has.
“He also has some size, although he’s a small man as a heavyweight, he’s really not a small man when you step in the boxing ring.”
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