Rising star Viktor Jurk, who sparred with Oleksandr Usyk ahead of his rematch with Tyson Fury in December 2024, has shared insights into what makes the Ukrainian champion the best in the world. Jurk, a 6ft 8in German boxer, was brought in to mimic Fury's southpaw style during camp.
Speaking exclusively to Mirror Fighting, Jurk described Usyk's camp as 'the best camp' he has ever experienced. 'The best places to sleep... everything is very good. They pay you proper money. They make sure everything is good. You have great gym access and everyone is cool,' he said. Jurk added that he learned a lot behind the scenes, seeing things the cameras do not show.
Jurk emphasised that the real learning comes from observing Usyk's training methods rather than the sparring itself. 'When you spar someone like him, you don't learn a lot from sparring. You learn more from the training camp. You learn how he trains,' he explained. He noted that Usyk's camp focuses on modern sports science, cognitive conditioning, footwork, and explosive strength.
Usyk is set to face kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven on Saturday night at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. Jurk predicted a straightforward win for Usyk, comparing it to Anthony Joshua's two-round knockout of Francis Ngannou or Usyk's own stoppage of Tony Bellew. 'He should win this fight. He just make him tired,' Jurk said.
