Joseph Parker’s trainer reveals what he must do to beat Oleksandr Usyk

Joseph Parker’s trainer Andy Lee has explained why his fighter can be the man to end Oleksandr Usyk’s heavyweight dominance.

Usyk became undisputed champion in boxing’s blue-riband division for the second time when he dismantled Daniel Dubois inside five rounds at Wembley on Saturday night.

The Ukrainian great now holds two wins each over Dubois, Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, and sits atop the pound-for-pound list.

It is currently unclear who his next challenger will be, but it could be the WBO interim champion Parker. The New Zealander is on a stunning run of form that has seen him beat Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang and Martin Bakole.

Lee believes Parker is capable of pulling off the upset if he gets his title shot and revealed what he has been working on with him in the gym to prepare him for Usyk.

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“What we work on in the gym is being ready at all times and body language in the ring, and keeping your feet in a position where you’re always ready to punch,” Lee said on the Ariel x Ade Show.

“If you are resting and you are taking a break, you don’t show it. You look as if you are ready to attack and you’re ready to punch. That’s basically what we do and that’s what Usyk does.

“Usyk feeds off his opponent’s breaks. When they look to take that little switch, he’ll attack them. He can pressure, pressure, pressure, feint with his magic wand right hand and he just burns them up. They are mentally exhausted as much as physically. And then when he wants to rest, he can move and dip and dive under the big guys’ punches.”

Usyk has been the considerably smaller man in his fights against Dubois, Joshua and Fury, but that would not be the case if he shared a ring with Parker.

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Although Parker would be the heavier of the two, they are similar heights with comparable reaches.

Lee feels these physical characteristics give Parker a better chance as he will be able to keep up with Usyk and not fade away down the final stretch.

Lee added: “Joe has a similar size to him, can fight at a similar pace. He’s a crafty, clever boxer, Joseph. People don’t realise how clever he is and how he can adjust.

“We won’t be taking breaks and we’ll just have to match him. I just love the fight. I think technically it’s a great fight from two really good heavyweight boxers. One of them, an all-time great, and Joseph a Hall of Famer, and possibly an all-time great if he got the win over Usyk.

“You have to match his pace, and that’s mentally as well as physical.”

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