OLEKSANDR USYK has bulked up into a fearsome heavyweight for his rematch with Anthony Joshua — thanks to 4.45am alarm calls for TRIPLE daily sessions.
The Ukraine ace, 35, claimed AJ’s WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight world titles in September — and they meet again in Saudi Arabia a week on Saturday.
Usyk is tapering off preparations in Dubai.
And when British boxing legend Amir Khan visited the gym, the undefeated 2012 Olympic gold winner revealed he has been waking up at the crack of dawn to squeeze in three punishing sessions a day.
When Khan asked if the former undisputed cruiserweight king was ready, he growled: “I was born ready.”
Usyk, who boxed at middleweight as an amateur, has bulked up again for the fight.
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Before his 2020 points win over Derek Chisora, he claimed his ideal weight would be 16st.
But for that London clash he could only reach 15st 7lb.
When he dominated AJ at Tottenham’s stadium, he had managed to hit 15st 11lb of pure muscle and retain his speed, while his rival was 17st.
But now he looks well in excess of his dream weight — which could mean Joshua is in for an even rougher night.
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After his win over Del Boy, Usyk said: “I feel more powerful since moving up from cruiserweight.
“When it comes to boxing, me and my team will decide on the optimum weight for me to fight at.
“I will stay at that weight and it will be ideal for my movement — because that is my main skill.”
When Usyk visited London for the launch presser for the AJ rerun, he bumped into Chisora, 38, at a Russian spa.
And Chisora revealed Usyk’s crazy regime.
He said: “I told him he looked tired. He told me he had just finished swimming for five hours.
“I told him he was lying, he couldn’t swim for five hours.
“But his trainer told me it was true and then showed me a video of him in this huge Olympic pool just going up and down for five hours.”
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Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
