Heavyweight Ivan Dychko (7-0, 7 KOs) of Kazakhstan, bronze medalist of the 2012 London Olympics, drew a parallel between work in training camps of former world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko and Deontay Wilder (40-0, 39 KOs).
“It was in June 2016. At that time it was cool. I have already participated in the 2012 Olympics. If you compare at that time - to be a sparring partner of Wladimir Klitschko and the Olympics - I choose that it's better to be a sparring partner of Klitschko. He is cool, he is a legend, he is a champion of champions.
“I always wondered how much I would pay to train in the camp with Wladimir Klitschko? And then I had the opportunity to go to him, and he pays me.
- What are your impressions of the training camp of the world champion WBC Deontay Wilder? How do you work with him in pairs?
“I thought he was cooler. Always compare with the camp of Wladimir Klitschko. Because after Klitschko my emotions went off scale. At Wilder's camp I was so... yes. I also tuned in to sparring, I thought that now I will miss the champ’s wild right hand, and I will have to withstand his blow. But it wasn’t ...
“Of course he’s good, slikked, but I expected more. Sometimes I gave up slack, but only at the request of his coach. There was a moment when the coach told me: “Do not force up, be simpler.” But I need to do so that he does not punch me hard, I let myself be beaten on points. Here you need to know the specifics of the work.
“If I, an unknown person, came and beat the champion, he may begin to doubt himself. Their task is to prevent this. It happened when I beat Luis Ortiz in sparring. Comparing Klitschko and Wilder, Deontay seemed to me not as good as Klitschko, so it was easier and easier for me to spar with him.
“Well, the training camp itself is organized worse for his sprarring partners, for the fighters, and, accordingly, cheaper. My opinion is that boxers like Wilder and Ortiz are quite easy for me. Wilder can be defeated, and there’s nothing new to invent,” said Dychko.
