Joseph Parker's trainer reveals what he must do to beat Oleksandr Usyk
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.
'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.
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.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Lennox Lewis says he would've beaten count if he was Daniel Dubois but refuses to slam Brit for party before Usyk loss
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LENNOX LEWIS says he would have beaten the count that settled Daniel Dubois' KO loss to Oleksandr Usyk - but refuses to put the boot into his former protege. The fifth-round stoppage the undisputed Ukraine legend inflicted on the 27-year-old has split British boxing. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 Lennox Lewis reckons he would have beaten the count that settled Daniel Dubois' KO loss to Oleksandr Usyk Credit: Getty 8 Daniel Dubois was knocked out in the fifth round by Oleksandr Usyk Credit: PA 8 Usyk has become a dominant force in heavyweight boxing Credit: Getty Warhorse Derek Chisora, 41, told our Split Decision YouTube show that Dubois quit, but Tyson Fury passionately defended him - and both men offered to help train and rebuild him. Lewis, 59 - the last heavyweight undisputed ruler dating back to 1999 - has been backing Dubois for a decade, since he turned pro, and has called for calm in the criticism of him. But the man-mountain-mastermind - who manhandled monsters like Vitali Klitschko, Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield after recovering from two knockout defeats - says he would not have accepted the same fate Dubois did. He told SunSport: 'I can only say that, if I was in that situation, I would have beaten the count. 'But we don't know what was going on, mentally and physically, with him. 'When you ask 'could he have got up?' We don't know what was going through his mind. 'Usually when you are on a knee and you are looking up like that, you have a decision to get up and go on, or not. 'It's a big decision and you have to make it within the count. And I don't think he made that decision within the count.' 8 Dubois was unable to continue after being knocked to the canvas Credit: EPA 8 CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS There is an ongoing and deserved inquest into how Dubois' dad Stan managed his pre-fight preparation. The IBF's defending champion arrived late, after a long car journey, and then had his entrance held up when his father threatened to pull him from the fight if his bundle of ticketless guests were not allowed in. Derek Chisora says Jake Paul is doing 'great things for boxing' but pleads with him not to fight Anthony Joshua Almost everyone in boxing has hammered the slapstick shambles but Lewis can't throw stones as he would be sound asleep about 30 minutes before the biggest fights of his life. He explained: 'Everybody does their thing a bit differently. 'Usually people look at what the previous champions did before them, and copy that. 'For me, I used to tell my team to throw everybody out of the dressing room and not let anybody bother me. 'Officials and other people would be coming to see me or to get my autograph and they would be told 'no, not until he wakes up'. 'Once I woke up, it was like a new day, I was ready for that day, and I was ready to fight. 'People didn't realise that when I was able to sleep like that, it meant I was as relaxed as I could possibly be. 8 Footage emerged of Daniel Dubois having a party hours before the fight Credit: X 8 People were packed in to Dubois' home Credit: X 'There's no point being in a dressing room ages before the fight, pacing up and down and breathing hard, that's not me. I sleep, I relax and I get in the ring. 'I would wake up just in time to wrap my hands and then my warm-up was fast.' And how does Lewis rate the man who has laid waste to the UK's biggest and best men, from Chisora to Anthony Joshua, to Tyson Fury and now Dubois? 'He's a remarkable, big-time, great boxer,' Lewis purred. 'He does everything right, he's smart and he moves and punches well. 'But he works you out BEFORE the fight. 'All the British guys have had two cracks at him and still can't do it. 'I have watched from the outside and thought 'I know how I would prepare to beat Oleksandr Usyk. 'Oleksandr Usyk is a great mover, so you have to be a great mover as well, you have to be good on your feet. "But these guys can't figure it out.'
The Guardian
5 hours ago
- The Guardian
Mason Lino's last-gasp drop goal stuns Leeds and boosts Wakefield's playoff hopes
Wakefield Trinity edged a thrilling West Yorkshire derby with Leeds Rhinos, with Mason Lino's drop goal in the final act of the contest securing victory to move them into the Super League playoff places. In front of a sell-out crowd, the biggest at Wakefield for well over a decade, Trinity – who were playing in the Championship last year – underlined their playoff credentials to inflict a potentially decisive defeat on Leeds in their own pursuit of the top two. The game seemed destined to be heading for golden point extra time with the scores level at 14-14 before, with seconds remaining, Lino kicked a nerveless drop goal with what proved to be the last kick of a pulsating game to move Trinity into the top six. The Rhinos, who missed the chance to go third here, will rue this as a missed opportunity. It was a statement victory for Daryl Powell's side, who are playing in front of crowds three times bigger than when they were relegated from Super League with a whimper two years ago, but are now reborn under the ownership of Matt Ellis. They appear to be bona fide contenders for the race for Old Trafford come October. The opening exchanges were indicative of two sides pushing for success this year, with both completing at a high percentage rate and not affording the other an inch. However, when the first error did arrive it gave Wakefield an opportunity they wouldn't pass up, as Max Jowitt converted a penalty to open the scoring. Two minutes later, with the momentum behind them, Trinity went further ahead when a wonderful handling move led to Lachlan Walmsley crossing in the corner. Jowitt couldn't convert, but the hosts were certainly good value for their early six-point lead. That try came after Brodie Croft had been sent to the sin-bin for a trip on Lino but to their credit, the Rhinos dug in well for the 10 minutes they were at a numerical disadvantage, even kicking a penalty through the boot of Jake Connor to narrow the arrears to just four points. Jowitt then returned serve with another penalty, with points and gilt-edged attacking opportunities at a premium, to make it 8-2. But Leeds continued to improve as half-time approached and they got the try their efforts deserved as Sam Lisone forced his way over three Wakefield defenders, giving Connor a simple goal to make it 8-8 at the break. The tense, nervy nature of proceedings continued after half-time. Perhaps the biggest talking point in the 20 minutes after the restart was Leeds losing Connor to a freak incident after he was punched in the face by his teammate, James Bentley, as the pair attempted to tackle a Wakefield player. Sign up to The Recap The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action after newsletter promotion The contest then came alive in spectacular fashion in the final 15 minutes. Leeds had spent most of the second half defending their own line but in a rare foray down into Wakefield territory, they went ahead for the first time as Jarrod O'Connor grounded the ball under extreme pressure to put the visitors in front. With Jack Sinfield converting, you wondered if Leeds would be able to hold on from there with time ticking away. However, Trinity responded magnificently as Lino's inch-perfect pass sent Matty Storton across from close range – and Jowitt converted to make it 14-14 and set up a grandstand finale. The Rhinos came desperately close to snatching victory with Croft's drop goal going narrowly wide of the posts but Lino made no mistake at the other end, nervelessly kicking the winning point from long range to spark rapturous scenes.
Press and Journal
7 hours ago
- Press and Journal
Don Cowie assesses Ross County's biggest Premier Sports Cup test - against league rivals Partick Thistle
Manager Don Cowie insists Saturday's must-win showdown with Partick Thistle will show how ready Ross County are for the Championship kick-off. Tuesday's rousing 8-0 rout over League Two visitors Edinburgh City in the Premier Sports Cup – on the back of last weekend's 1-0 win at Championship hosts Queen of the South – means County still have a chance of reaching the last 16. The back-to-back wins followed a 1-1 draw at League Two Stranraer, which ended in a penalty shoot-out defeat at Stair Park. Thistle have won all three of their ties, so have a two-point lead ahead of the weekend's Dingwall tie. The final Group B fixture comes exactly a week before County, relegated from the Premiership in May, kick off their league campaign at Airdrieonians. For four years running, Partick have reached the promotion play-offs but have yet to clinch their place back in the top-flight, following relegation in 2017-18. In 2023, County staged the most remarkable recovery to beat Partick in the play-off final on penalties, after the Glasgow team led by three goals. Now under the sole management of Mark Wilson, Jags fans will expect their side to again be in the promotion race. Cowie reckons that will be a multi-club chase for places in the Premiership. While beating Edinburgh City in such style was pleasing, Cowie knows only the best will do against Partick. He said: 'I think pretty much every team will be a play-off or a title contender because of how competitive the league is. 'We've seen that year after year and Partick have been really consistent to finish in the play-off for the last few years. 'It will be a good test to see where we are, and we'll have to temper Tuesday tonight. 'Edinburgh are a League Two team and now we're going to be facing a Championship team, so we'll see where we really are. 'It was great to get eight goals but Saturday is what really counts now. 'Like we said after the first game in the group, we gave ourselves a bit of a mountain to climb. 'We knew that but we also knew that winning the next three games would give us a real chance of finishing top. 'We've won two and that was always our aim. It will be a different quality of opposition on Saturday against Partick, but we're looking forward to it.' Saturday's win in Dumfries was County's first victory since March, with a major dip in form taking them out of the top-flight via a play-off final loss against Livingston. Cowie hopes his new-look side – with 11 new faces – can get used to winning to gather momentum when the league season gets going. He said: 'We want to build momentum to start the season well, and we want our new players to have that good feeling. 'Winning is a habit and last year it became a struggle at the end because we weren't winning, so we want to get into that mode and that habit again. 'The good sign (from Tuesday) was that even though it was 3-0 at half time, we didn't take our foot off the gas. We kept going and it finished 8-0, and that's the mentality we need to create. 'It would be important for us to get out of the group and finish top, and that's what we're aiming to do.' Defender Akil Wright, who played every Premiership minute for his side last term, sat out the goal feast against Edinburgh but he should be back to face Thistle. Returning midfielder Jamie Lindsay is set for his first County appearance since helping the club win the Championship in 2019. Cowie explained: 'Akil felt a little niggle from the weekend, so we thought it was best to be a bit cautious and leave him out on Tuesday and hope that means he is available for Saturday. 'It was good to see Dylan Smith playing in his natural position, and I thought he played really well too, so that was a real positive. 'Akil will hopefully be back, and I think Jamie Lindsay has a good chance. 'He has only just re-joined us, and he's keen and eager to be involved. I thought tonight was far too soon, but Saturday is still a few days away so I think that's realistic. 'Gary Mackay-Steven is back training with the squad, but I think it will be the first league game before he's back, and Connor Randall will be back with us then as well with the protocol (after a head knock).' Cowie underlined that recruiting another centre half remains a priority in the coming week or so after the early capture of ex-Dundee United defender Declan Gallagher.
