The mentor has not trained Usyk for more than six years, but he is sure that he knows him well
James Ali Bashirformer WBO/WBA/IBF/IBO world champion coach Oleksandr Usykcurrently helping the nearest rival of the Ukrainian Daniel Dubois in preparation for battle.
The 72-year-old coach claims that despite the fact that his collaboration with Usyk ended more than six years ago, the character of the Ukrainian boxer has remained unchanged.
“We actually lived together for three years, so I know him well. I understand Oleksandr Usyk’s work.”
“Even after he let me go, his character will not change. This is the most important thing I have learned from it. Professionals are what we are – he is a professional and I am a professional. He decided not to use me; Daniel decided to use me. My knowledge of him continues – it didn’t end because I stopped working with him.”
“I had an apartment in Ukraine – in Kyiv. I lived in Ukraine and went to the gym every day in Ukraine. For the most part, we spent six hours a day for three years; we went together to different fights in Ukraine. He understood who I was, and I understood who he was.”
“The character of a person does not change. They will get different concepts from a different trainer – a different teacher – but for the most part, the character of a boxer remains the same. I’ve watched him fight years after he left and I don’t see much difference, much change in the boxer.”
“Of course, he will do some things differently, but under stress, aggression and impact force, each person will do what he does best to protect himself. Once he’s hit, once he’s under stress, he’ll go back to doing what he does best. His nature will not change.”
Usyk ended his partnership with Bashir in February 2017.
The battle between Usyk and Dubois will take place on August 26 in Wroclaw, Poland, at the Tarczynski Arena. The championship fight will be shown by the MEGOGO media service.
On the undercard of the Usyk-Dubois fight, WBO International lightweight champion Denis Berinchyk, Dmitry Mitrofanov, Yaroslav Khartsyz, Vasily Chebotar, Fedor Cherkashin, Daniel Lapin and others will enter the ring.
Source: Sportarena
I am Ashley Ortiz and I am a professional journalist working for Athletistic. My specialty is in sports journalism, particularly boxing. I have written articles for some of the most renowned publications on the subject, and my work has been featured across both print and digital media platforms.
