Pirog: "I'm interested in Usyk as a phenomenon in boxing"

Former world middleweight champion Dmitry Pirog told why he follows the career of the holder of the WBA WBO and IBF titles in the heavyweight division Oleksandr Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs).

“Usyk is quite interesting to me. Like a phenomenon in boxing. A person who, without a pronounced knockout punch in heavy weight, shows such boxing.

With Joshua when he boxed, it was clear that Usyk had a higher boxing intelligence. Although Joshua is a high-level boxer: an Olympian, a world champion, a star, and a popular one. But Usyk mentally, it was clear that he was stronger than him. Moreover, his training itself is so peculiar. The inner confidence is colossal, and it is based precisely on your preparation, first of all, on your faith in your result. And he is such a phenomenon that I still can’t figure it out. He is interesting to me, that's why I become attached to him, I watch his fights. The phenomenon is connected with the fact that it is at striking distance, but it seems that the bird is a little hypnotized by a boa constrictor. It seems like it should fly away, but does not fly away.

It's the same here, just in a different way. There is a boxer who can hit hard, but he cannot deliver this punch or cannot invest, and as a result he stops hitting hard. And Usyk, it seems, is starting to box. He imposes his manner. That is, he is more comfortable than his opponent. And this is the first sign that you have more chances to win. He’s interesting to me, ”Pirog said in an interview with the Vitor Yalymov Boxing Studio YouTube channel.