Usyk: I do not need to weight 220 pounds, I will not be able to fight for 12 rounds

Undisputed cruiserweight champion Oleksander Usyk told how he is preparing for his debut in the heavyweight division. On May 25 in Oxon Hill, Usyk will meet the 38-year-old Frenchman Carlos Takam. The Ukrainian assures that his weight in battle will not exceed 213 pounds.

"I did not start to gain weight. The weight is the same as it was in the offseason. It just needs to be processed now, transferred to a different quality. We thought that I didn’t need to weigh 220 pounds, I even didn’t need 218 - the working weight in battle will be 213 pounds. If there is more, then theoretically we will not be able to fight for 12 rounds,” Usyk said.

“We always prepare for 12 rounds. Being overweight will be very difficult to pull out at the pace with which we work,” said Usyk.