SOMETHIN PUNCHY
SHORT, SHARP AND TO THE POINT -IT'S THE ART NOT ONLY OF THROWING KNOCKOUT BLOWS, BUT NAMING THEM, TOO
BY LUKE G WILLIAMS
Photo: ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
AFTER separating Daniel Dubois from his senses inside Wembley Stadium in July, Oleksandr Usyk revealed that the punch he had done this with had its very own name.
At the post-fight press conference, the world heavyweight champion introduced reporters to ‘Ivan’ – the southpaw left hook that had ended Dubois’ IBF title reign in the fifth round.
“My left hook is called Ivan,” Usyk said, smiling his endearingly goofy smile.
“Ivan is a big guy who lives in a village and works for his family. It’s a hard punch, Ivan. The first time [I named the punch was in} 2018 in the USA as a cruiserweight.”
In conversation with Boxing News later, Usyk’s cornerman, Russ Anber, explained that the punch was actually named a little earlier than Usyk recalled – specifically, in early 2017 when Anber, who has worked with Usyk for 14 fights now, was serving as chief trainer ahead of a WBO cruiserweight title fight against Michael Hunter.
“We were in California working on various things on the bag ahead of the Hunter fight and we worked specifically on this left-hand punch,” Anber recalled.