A top trainer has repeated claims that his fighter stopped Oleksandr Usyk during a sparring session.
Usyk became unified heavyweight champion when he defeated Anthony Joshua by unanimous decision in 2021, and retained them ten months later in the rematch in Saudi Arabia.
Since then he’s defended his titles just once against another Brit, Daniel Dubois, where the Ukrainian was sent to the canvas by what was deemed a low blow but recovered to knock out ‘DDD’ in the ninth round.
Usyk’s next fight looks to be for the biggest prize in all of boxing – a chance to become undisputed heavyweight champion against current WBC belt holder, Tyson Fury.
‘The Gypsy King’ has just finished his camp to face former UFC star, Francis Ngannou this weekend, and one of his training partners Martin Bakole, has had his previous claims that he stopped the Ukrainian in sparring backed up but his trainer, Billy Nelson.
Speaking to Boxing Social, Nelson spoke about that incident and says Fury will be favourite going into the fight.
“Martin Bakole knows how to handle Oleksandr Usyk. I mean it’s common knowledge he stopped him in sparring out over in Dubai.
I’ve always said Tyson’s IQ is phenomenal, what Anthony Joshua should have done, Tyson Fury will do. He’ll close the distance down, keep him on the ropes, hit the body, come back upstairs, move in and out, something that Anthony Joshua failed to do.”
Although no date has been officially announced for the fight, Fury has claimed the contracts have been signed for December and that Usyk will be getting sued if he tries to delay it.