The reigning WBC, WBA, and WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk just secured a unanimous decision win over former WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in their rematch on Saturday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, rumors about his grueling training method have been making the rounds on the internet. 

The undefeated Ukrainian secured a split decision win over ‘The Gypsy King’ last May in the same venue. Fury had since locked himself away for three months in training to avenge his loss. But, Usyk managed to pour gasoline over Fury’s plans with his slick performance, giving a glimpse into how hard the 37-year-old trained for the fight. 

Oleksandr Usyk puts himself through hell

Earlier today, The Fight Bubble on Instagram revealed a fascinating insight into ‘The Cat’s’ intense training regimen. The fighter reportedly pushed himself through 15 grueling five-minute rounds, with an unwavering commitment to perfection. However, if he even so much as grazed the ropes during a round, he wouldn’t settle for a minor adjustment. 

Interestingly, he would restart the entire 15-round session from the very beginning, forcing himself to relive the relentless challenge again, and again, until every movement was flawless. “Apparently, Usyk trains 15 5-minute rounds and resets the timer if he touches the rope… How do you even beat someone like that?” they wrote.

Usyk previously shared his thoughts on training before a boxing match, suggesting he doesn’t enjoy the process. Before the fight, The Mirror quoted Usyk saying in an interview with BetVictor, “I have always been sick of training. If you are in training camps for several months whilst doing the hard work ahead of fights, you would feel the same or even worse!”

And even when he trains hard, Usyk seems to take a more balanced approach. During an interview with DAZN Boxing during the Grand Arrivals, Usyk shared a glimpse into his training four days before the Fury fight had been like. “Today [we’re] not boxing, because today we’re doing cardio, moving, stretching,” he told Ade Oladipo. “Today’s easy.”

When asked about the rest of the week leading up to the bout, he said, “Training, relax, eating, speaking with my family. Watching movies, and that’s enough.” Returning to the rumors surrounding Usyk’s training regimen, although The Fight Bubble did not provide any sources, the details of the alleged routine still fascinated fans.

Fans in disbelief 

It’s hard enough to go through 12-3 minute rounds, Usyk taking things far and beyond left fans with jaws on the floor. One user could not believe how Usyk would do that regularly. “How tf he do that?” the user asked. Usyk is known for his exceptional conditioning, a trait he’s consistently displayed throughout his career. However, the idea of 15 five-minute rounds seems almost unbelievable. Given that he doesn’t use the ropes, a single session of this would stretch for a full 75 minutes.

Another user highlighted regardless of how hard Usyk trains, there’s one opponent he won’t be able to beat. “Wait for father time,” the user wrote. Many legendary boxers have fallen victim to time and age, including the likes of Muhammad Ali, legendary Mike Tyson, and many more. 

Someone else roped in UFC’s championship fights, which have five rounds of five minutes. “Bro does 3 UFC championship rounds but boxes,” the user wrote. However, that happens only in the championship fights. In regular fights, the length of the rounds is much shorter in the UFC. 

Meanwhile, this user hoped Jake Paul would make the mistake of challenging Oleksandr Usyk. “Pleeeeaaase let Jake Paul get drunk and challenge this man,” the user wrote. ‘The Problem Child’ is known for fighting older opponents, and 37-year-old Usyk would fall perfectly in the age range. 

The next user was in disbelief at Usyk’s age. “How is he [37],” the user asked. Interestingly, despite his age, Usyk has shown barely any signs of slowing down. Even after securing undisputed status in two weight classes, the undefeated boxer is open to fighting Daniel Dubois for a rematch next. 

With that said, it appears the rumored training regime of Oleksandr Usyk clearly has fans in disbelief of his abilities at 37. However, even Usyk can’t go on forever—it would be interesting to see when he decides to hang up the gloves for good. Do you think Usyk should retire?