Sep 01 2023 News

He [Dubois's Trainer] Couldn’t Tell [Dubois] Any Secrets Because He Doesn’t Know Them - Oleksandr Usyk Hits Back Dubois's Trainer

Leading up to his bout against Daniel Dubois, Oleksandr Usyk found himself amused by the speculations surrounding the match. A significant talking point was the fact that Dubois's coach, James Ali Bashir, previously trained Usyk for about three years during his professional career. Many believed that Bashir would share insights into Usyk's vulnerabilities with Dubois. However, the match in Wroclaw, Poland, saw Usyk, aged 36, emerging victorious by stopping Dubois in the ninth round, successfully defending his WBO, WBA, IBF, and IBO titles. Although Usyk's performance was dominant, there was a tense moment in the fifth round. Dubois managed to land a right-hand body shot that sent Usyk to the canvas. But referee Luis Pabon ruled it a low blow, offering Usyk a recovery period, a decision that sparked debate among spectators. Post-match, Usyk expressed his views on Bashir's association with Dubois. While he acknowledged Bashir's reputation and integrity, he felt that his former trainer's knowledge about him was superficial. Usyk conveyed that, despite their professional relationship, Bashir didn't truly understand him on a personal level. Usyk then humorously mentioned that if anyone truly knew him, it would be his wife, not his mother, emphasizing how close their bond is.

“James Ali Basher is a great person,” Usyk told SecondsOut. "He’s a famous person. He’s a good man. But he wouldn’t teach Dubois any secrets because he knows none of them. Though we worked together for long time, he couldn’t [teach] me [anything personally]. “He didn’t know me [personally]. That’s why he couldn’t tell that corner any secrets that I have because he just doesn’t know them. I will tell you the person who knows me real, who knows me like I am. I wouldn’t tell you it’s my mom, but it’s my wife. She knows who I am.”