Before Oleksandr Usyk of Ukraine outclassed Anthony Joshua to win their heavyweight championship rematch, Usyk¡¯s manager, Egis Klimas, boasted about credulity-stretching feats of physical output he had seen the Ukrainian boxer perform in training.
He mentioned a six-hour bike ride in the 110-degree (43 degrees Celsius) heat in Saudi Arabia, where Saturday night¡¯s bout took place. And there was a 6-mile (9.6 km) swim. Another day, Klimas said, Usyk held his breath under water for five minutes.
Klimas clearly wanted to impress reporters with Usyk¡¯s prowess and warn everyone present ¡ª Joshua included ¡ª that the 35-year-old Usyk, previously a world champion at cruiserweight, possessed deep physical and mental reserves.
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