Oleksandr Usyk 's sparring partners have been "sent home" after failing to keep up with the Ukrainian as he prepares for his heavyweight world title rematch against Anthony Joshua.
Usyk makes the first defence of his heavyweight belts against Joshua on August 20 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Both men haven't fought since their first meeting last September, when Usyk outclassed Joshua to become a unified heavyweight champion in just his third bout at the weight class.
Nursultan Amanzholov, an undefeated Kazakh heavyweight prospect, has been sparring with Usyk and his manager, Aamir Ali, revealed that the Ukrainian has been pushing the paces on his training partners, with many of them failing to keep up.
“He was sending heavyweights, six foot six and whatnot back home, they can't keep up," Ali told Sky Sports. "Nursultan was the one of the only heavyweights that he kept on throughout the whole camp. He would actually challenge him and give him a very tough time.
Who wins in the rematch - Oleksandr Usyk or Anthony Joshua? Let us know your prediction in the comments section below!
"From what I understand, there were points where Nursultan was being told by Usyk, 'No I need you to come on harder.' Like don't hold back on me, just go to war. Anthony Joshua is in trouble. [Nursultan] says there are days when Usyk goes to war with him. It's not easy to hurt to Nursultan but he's been on the receiving end a few times. But a lot of his heavyweights have been sent back home, if they can't stay in camp."
Usyk's boxing future was uncertain when he stepped foot on the frontline earlier this year to help against Russia's invasion of his home country. The former undisputed cruiserweight champion was eventually persuaded by the Ukrainian military to make his boxing return and fight Joshua again.
The Brit, meanwhile, has parted ways with longtime trainer Robert McCracken for the rematch and has been working with accomplished coach Robert Garcia in search of a new gameplan to beat Usyk. Ali added that Usyk was in a "foul mood" the day after returning home from his press conference and wanted to "go to war" in training.
"He said as soon as [Usyk] came back from Jeddah, from the press conference, the day he arrived back, he phoned up Nursultan, who was sitting in his hotel, and said to him, 'I want you sparring today'. Literally got off the plane and started sparring straightaway and [Nursultan] said he was in a foul mood. He was in a really angry mood, wanted to go to war," Ali added.
