Oleksandr Usyk will be trained by Anatoly Lomachenko for his September 25 clash with WBA Super, WBO and IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, according to Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum.
The Top Rank Chairman does not represent Usyk but Anatoly Lomachenko is, of course, the father and trainer of former pound-for-pound No.1 Vasiliy Lomachenko, who Arum has promoted since the start of his pro career.
Former undisputed cruiserweight champ Usyk was trained Yuri Tkachenko for an underwhelming points win over a dogged Dereck Chisora last October, but Arum claims the WBO No.1 contender is changing his approach for the bout with Joshua, slated for the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in three months’ time.
“Let me caution you something, because even though I don’t promote him, I consider him a really good friend and that’s Oleksandr Usyk, who the reason I know him so well is he is the best friend of Vasiliy Lomachenko,” Arum told Sky Sports.
“Egis Klimas, who is the manager of [Usyk and Lomachenko], I talk with him and he has talked with the father of Lomachenko, who he calls ‘Papa Lomachenko’ who was the trainer of all these Ukrainian Olympians and he’s agreed to properly train Usyk for this fight.
“I’m telling you, don’t think that Joshua is in a cake walk. He has a really tough fight with Usyk, who is a terrific boxer. His father wouldn’t train anyone else, but he will train Usyk, because Usyk is like family.”