Usyk Insists Fury's Return Hasn't Altered His Three-Fight Roadmap
Oleksandr Usyk has declared that his carefully crafted career plan remains firmly in place, despite the seismic shifts occurring within the heavyweight division following Tyson Fury's successful return to the ring. In an exclusive conversation with The Daily Mail ahead of his upcoming bout with Rico Verhoeven, the former undisputed champion provided a detailed and measured analysis of the evolving landscape.
A Calm Assessment of Fury's Victory
'It's good Tyson won. Congratulations to him,' stated Usyk during his Tuesday press conference. 'I received numerous messages asking, "Did you see? My friend is winning." I confirmed that yes, it is great.' The Ukrainian superstar acknowledged the public's curiosity about his thoughts on Fury's performance against Arslanbek Makhmudov. 'I watched the initial six rounds before turning it off to attend church for prayer. However, during rounds three and four, I experienced moments of concern. Boom - Makhmudov was landing significant shots, and I found myself thinking, "Be careful. Hands up. Hands up."'
Unwavering Ambitions Despite Division Uncertainty
Despite observing those fleeting vulnerabilities, Usyk emphasized that Fury's display has not prompted any revision of his long-term objectives, even with ongoing speculation surrounding a potential Fury-Anthony Joshua showdown. 'No, my plan hasn't changed. It's not different after watching him,' he asserted. 'My plan remains identical. I have three fights meticulously planned, I know precisely what I want, and if Fury can be incorporated into that framework then acceptable, but circumstances have become slightly more intricate now.'
He elaborated further: 'I comprehend that Tyson hasn't finalized an agreement with AJ yet, but if AJ and Fury sign the contract, I'll respectfully step aside and state, "OK, proceed," because I genuinely desire AJ to defeat Tyson.'
Joshua's Composure and Camp Dynamics
Fury's post-fight theatrics, which included directly calling out Joshua while he was seated ringside, captured widespread media attention. Usyk, however, believes Joshua handled the provocative situation with the discipline expected at elite level. 'I don't believe AJ was nervous about it,' he commented. 'I think now AJ must prepare appropriately for a major fight, because following a confrontation like that, it's customary for him to have an interim bout. Tyson has had a fight in between and it's only equitable that Anthony has one. It's typical for Tyson to behave in this manner. But AJ must maintain focus and organization for the fight - the fight with Tyson Fury.'
Joshua returned to Spain to rejoin Usyk's training camp the day after Fury's fight, with Usyk revealing that their discussions concentrated solely on Fury's performance rather than the surrounding drama. 'Oh, listen, we didn't converse about that,' Usyk explained. 'We spoke about Tyson - how he triumphed, what he executed. What transpired after the fight is just standard Tyson Fury, every single time. Excessive talking: "Hey, you bodybuilder, you sausage," blah, blah, blah… Yeah but we shared a joke about it all.'
Growing Camaraderie and Family Connections
Away from the public glare, the developing bond between the two fighters is perhaps best demonstrated by Joshua's interactions with Usyk's family. The Ukrainian revealed a more personal dimension to their partnership, particularly regarding his children. 'The kids are consistently asking, "Is he my brother? Is he my brother?" Usyk shared. 'My children inquire about him and he asks about my kids. He always says, "How are Kirill and Mikhail? Are they playing basketball?" He shows genuine interest in their activities.'
'Oh my God, Katrina posted that video, and numerous people reacted with, "Oh my God, AJ is playing basketball with Usyk's child, it's wonderful." Yeah, but I informed my son that you must leave him alone occasionally! My son requested, "Hey, can I go play with AJ?" I responded no, he must work. AJ said, "No problem," as if it's ordinary. But I stated, "No, you must read." And yeah, he accepted it. It's positive.'
Meticulous Preparation and Analytical Training
Within the training camp, Usyk's preparation continues with characteristic precision. He disclosed that his training sessions leading up to the Verhoeven fight are frequently accompanied by footage of both contemporary and historical greats - serving dual purposes of inspiration and tactical examination. 'Currently I watch Rico Verhoeven's fights, and periodically Tyson Fury's fights, Anthony's fights,' he noted. 'Sometimes classic fights: Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Mexican fighters like Marco Antonio Barrera.'
'I watch whatever captures my interest. I observe and then I attempt to implement elements in my training. For instance, when I'm on the exercise bike, I'll instruct myself, "OK, remain on the bike like this and watch a fight." Similar to Miguel Cotto - I watch and pedal the bike simultaneously.'
He clarified that this process is evenly divided between motivation and technical analysis. '50/50,' he quantified. '50 percent is motivation, and 50 percent is studying - examining what these athletes execute: their movement, punches, defensive techniques. You understand, I heed the coach's instructions like, "You must step back and punch," or step forward. For me, it's evenly split. Sometimes it functions like a teacher, and sometimes it's motivation, because when you watch, you absorb energy and you drive yourself to accomplish more.'
Contemplating Life Beyond Boxing
As his professional career approaches its concluding chapters, Usyk also confessed he has already commenced considering existence after boxing - revealing that even his retirement announcement has been strategically planned. While he refrained from disclosing specific details, the mere acknowledgment highlights a fighter profoundly conscious of time, legacy, and precise timing.
For the present moment, however, his concentration remains steadfastly fixed on immediate priorities: the forthcoming fight, the next challenge, and a heavyweight division still revolving around unresolved business and shifting alliances.
