Oleksandr Usyk‘s highly-anticipated rematch with Tyson Fury takes place this week.
The two men do battle in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, seven months on from their first encounter in the same location back in May.
It was Usyk who came out on top on that occasion, dropping Fury on his way to a split decision win to become undisputed heavyweight champion.
The Ukrainian has since had to relinquish his IBF title to honour the rematch against Fury, with the WBC, WBA and WBO belts on the line this time around.
Ahead of the fight, fellow heavyweight Martin Bakole has been discussing his time sparring Usyk from some years ago. The Congolese heavyweight, who is number one ranked by the WBA, told Talksport how he dropped his rival with a body shot.
“I don’t lie, I don’t like to lie. I always tell the truth. If you watch BOXXER’s video you will see. I was live on Sky Sports and Oleksandr Usyk’s manager came behind me and said ‘This guy is going to be world champion tomorrow’ because he knows, who I am, he was in the gym when I gave Usyk a hard time.
“Usyk never even touched me, I smashed him and knocked him out. I knocked him out with a body shot. I was getting out of the ring and they said he will need one week to recover.”
Some onlookers believe that the Ukrainian is indeed vulnerable to the body, but he has also proven to have power of his own at heavyweight, and Fury has revealed just how hard his rival hit in their first meeting.
