Buddies head home buzzing from 'beneficial' pre-season camp
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Daily Mail
28 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Inside Oleksandr Usyk's training camp: How the boxing mastermind is using a special mouth guard, breath-holding and tracking blood samples to defy Father Time for Daniel Dubois rematch
It's easy to wonder how is still doing it. How, at 38, he remains unbeaten and untouchable, dancing through danger in boxing's most unforgiving division. Especially now, with a rematch looming against a young and hungrier-than-ever at Wembley Stadium next weekend. But after stepping inside Usyk's private training camp in Gandia, Spain, for the third consecutive time, it's become clear: Father Time hasn't caught him yet and there's a definitive reason why. The secret to the Ukrainian's remarkable longevity isn't magic or mystique. It's measurement. Every punch taken in sparring is tracked through micro-sensors in his mouth guard. Blood is drawn during camp to monitor his fatigue and the Ukrainian's memory, sleep and cognitive stress is all recorded, analysed, adapted. His camp is less like a gym and more like a lab. And it's in that lab, that a very modern kind of champion is being rebuilt for another run at glory. A champion looking to become undisputed for the third time in boxing's four-belt era. Usyk's alarm goes off at 5.30am every day. He doesn't scroll through his phone or sip a cup coffee. He undergoes an orthostatic test, giving his team a snapshot of how well his heart has recovered overnight. Nearby, others are collecting data from the sensors monitoring his sleep. Only then does his day begin. Sixty minutes of low-intensity aerobic training, usually a steady run or cycle, followed by a series of gymnastic exercises. Breakfast comes after. Technical training or sparring takes place mid-morning, followed by recovery and preparation for a second block in the evening. In the final five weeks of camp, sparring takes over. Sixty percent of all work becomes fight simulation, high stress, high output, and heavily monitored. Jakub Chycki, Usyk's strength and conditioning coach, speaks not like a trainer, but like a performance scientist. He explains that every blow in sparring is tracked with mouth guard sensors that measure head acceleration. Blood samples are taken throughout camp to assess biomarkers related to fatigue, inflammation, and even mild traumatic brain injuries. Such an approach may explain why Usyk, well into his thirties, continues to outpace peers who've long begun to fade. 'We monitor Usyk's sparring sessions and check for any mild traumatic brain injuries,' he tells Mail Sport. 'We collect information on the number of blows received during training and monitor his head acceleration. We collect the data by using monitoring systems integrated into his mouth guard. We can then assess the impact of sparring on his working memory. At critical moments, we also secure blood samples for biochemical and molecular testing. We then adapt how much sparring or how many rounds he is doing.' Cognitive training has also played a key role in his preparation. Usyk's known for juggling and flipping coins, but this camp goes beyond simple reaction drills. He's been doing deeper neurological work designed to improve what Chycki calls Usyk's 'executive function' - essentially, his ability to plan, recall, adapt, and problem-solve in real time. Anyone who's watched Usyk knows this is one of his greatest strengths in the ring. 'We do a lot of cognitive training. It's not just his reactions we were working on. Of course those reactions are important but they aren't actually the most important. Brain executive function is. It's his operating memory. In boxing, operating memory is crucial for learning and executing techniques as well as strategic thinking during a fight. 'While boxing sessions can help with muscle memory, it's important to develop Usyk's conscious awareness and strategic decision-making. When he does these exercises, they boost key brain proteins that are crucial for learning, memory, and neuron growth. This type of training improves his attention and his focus while also providing therapy for the mild traumatic brain injuries he picks up in sparring'. Wednesdays are swim days. Usyk has long used water training to build stamina, a practice that traces back to Anatoly Lomachenko, father of Vasyl, who once instructed him to swim open-air 10K for mental toughness. He now swims over 90 minutes once a week, changing pace to simulate the demands of a fight. He also practices breath-holding - sometimes underwater - which may seem odd for a boxer, but it's rooted in science. Breath control has been linked to improved lung capacity and psychological resilience under duress. After sparring days, Usyk hits the ice bath. The facility downstairs at his gym include a cold plunge pool set between eight and ten degrees Celsius, and a sauna next to it. Usyk and his training partner Daniel Lapin use it three times a week, especially after high-volume sessions. 'Usyk uses an ice bath three times a week. He will use the ice bath after his sparring sessions as he will spar in the morning and then do either a strength and conditioning or cognitive training session in the evening,' Chycki says. 'The ice bath is eight to 10 degrees and Usyk will be in there for around three to five minutes. That's the optimal environment to improve recovery. But, it's also a good time to measure his fatigue. When we are at the point in camp where he is completing the highest volume, we will take his blood before and after the ice bath. We can then access how he is peaking.' Recovery monitoring doesn't stop at water immersion. Eye scans, sleep data, hormone panels, and continuous heart rate variability are all used to inform training decisions. But, despite the high-tech gear, you'd never guess a world champion trained here. Situated just off a dual carriageway, the camp sits in the middle of nowhere - in a building that used to sell hatchbacks. Usyk keeps a small, tight-knit team, and while the setup isn't flashy, it's full of character: a basketball hoop and table tennis table downstairs where they unwind between sessions, and the glowing 'UNDISPUTED' sign that reminds you who calls this place home. There's a full boxing ring upstairs, cardio machines flanking one wall, a strength area along the other, and an eye-catching mural of the Ukrainian flag that greeted you as soon as you walk in. On another, Usyk had spray-painted messages to each member of his team - inside jokes, funny drawings, cryptic notes no outsider could decode. Anyone who's watched Usyk knows his ability to plan, recall, adapt, and problem-solve in real time is one of his greatest strengths in the ring - they label it his 'executive function' A steel frame held up his punch bag and next to it, a prayer. Every session, without fail, began and ended with Usyk standing in front of it, reciting the words, making the sign of the cross, and closing his eyes. The Cossack flag fluttered nearby. It wasn't for show. For Usyk, camp was a place of faith as much as it was a place of violence. But violence is what Usyk will be bringing on July 19 when he faces Dubois again at Wembley Stadium for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world. Their first fight ended with an Usyk win, but not without controversy. In the fifth round, Dubois landed a powerful body shot that dropped the champion. It was ruled a low blow. Dubois and his team still disputed the call. They felt Usyk would have missed the count without the extra time to recover. Usyk hasn't forgotten. The fight played on repeat in the gym, with his coaches dissecting every frame and exchanging tactical notes between rounds. 'I have the fight on all the time when I am training', Usyk said after his session. 'I think about the opportunities I am going to take. I don't think about Daniel when I watch it. I think about me. It's a good way to prepare. Looking at the first fight we can learn a lot. My coach looks at Daniel's mistakes, my mistakes and then my sparring partner watches the video and does the same so I can rehearse what I am going to do to Daniel.' Life inside camp wasn't all discipline and data. Usyk's two sons visited during one session, climbing into the ring and wrestling each other to their father's delight. He watched, laughed, even offered them tips. When they did switch off, Usyk and his team often walked into town and headed for the local gaming store. Inside, they competed on consoles, often late into the night. Usyk and Sergey Lapin, the camp's director, are said to be the ones to beat. That balance - between science and spirit, grit and laughter - is what defines Usyk. Age is inevitable. Decline is not. There is no telling how long he can keep holding off the younger, heavier, more explosive challengers. But from the quiet intensity of the converted garage in Spain, it's clear: Father Time hadn't landed clean yet.
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
Celtic man 'sounded out' for transfer to Austrian club
The South Korean midfielder, who joined the Scottish champions two years ago, has yet to make a senior appearance for the club. According to a report by fussballeuropa, Austria Vienna are interested in a transfer this summer. Celtic are reportedly open to a permanent deal, with an asking price between €200,000 and €300,000. Read more: There is also said to be 'considerable interest' in him from the Asian market. Kwon has had two loan spells during his time at Celtic, at St Mirren and Hibernian, making a total of 31 appearances for both clubs. He joined the club from Busan IPark in the South Korean second tier. Austria Vienna, who finished third in the Austrian Bundesliga last season, just three points behind eventual champions Sturm Graz, have already signed one South Korean player this summer, midfielder Kang-Hee Lee. If the reports are valid, Kwon could be the next addition to their squad. Despite not featuring in the first team, Kwon's potential has caught the attention of clubs both in Europe and Asia.
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Taking flight: how Premier League clubs are racking up 175,000 summer air miles
After a training camp in Spain the Gunners head to Asia, kicking off their tour with a friendly against Milan in Singapore. They play again at the National Stadium four days later, against Newcastle, then face Spurs in Hong Kong. Two friendlies follow at the Emirates Stadium, against Villarreal and Athletic Club. Unai Emery's side begin pre-season at Walsall and play again at the EFL club's stadium, against Roma, three weeks later after stops in Germany and the US. A game at Hansa Rostock is followed by Villa facing Eintracht Frankfurt in Kentucky, St Louis in Missouri and Nashville in Tennessee before returning home. They finish by playing at Marseille and Villarreal in a final weekend of action. After behind-closed-doors friendlies at home to Hibs and Bristol City, the club travel to the US. Premier League Summer Series fixtures against Everton, Manchester United and West Ham take place in New Jersey, Chicago and Atlanta respectively. The club finish preparations at home to Real Sociedad. Three friendlies have been announced – two London. After a game at QPR, Brentford host Borussia Mönchengladbach. But first they travel to Portugal for a training camp which will include a game against Gil Vicente just north of Porto. Two games in England in front of fans – at Southampton and at home to Wolfsburg – will be augmented by at least one match behind closed doors and a training camp in southern Spain. After a week's training in Portugal the club play four friendlies in England. Games at Huddersfield, Shrewsbury and Stoke are followed by a home match against Lazio. Chelsea started their Club World Cup adventure based in Philadelphia, playing two group games there and one in Atlanta. After relocating to Miami for their last-16 tie in Charlotte, they returned to Philadelphia for a quarter-final there before heading to New York for the semi-final and final. After returning they have two friendlies at home, against Bayer Leverkusen and Milan. A training camp in Austria includes games against Mainz and Augsburg. Before that come a friendly behind closed doors against Millwall and a match at Crawley. Preparations finish with the Community Shield against Liverpool. After a training camp in Scotland and two games in Lancashire, against Accrington and Blackburn, Everton head to the US to play in New Jersey (Bournemouth), Chicago (West Ham) and Atlanta (Manchester United). On 9 August comes the first full-capacity game at their new Hill Dickinson Stadium home, with Roma the opponents. A training camp in the Algarve is expected to feature two matches in front of fans in the Faro area, and one of those has been announced – against Nottingham Forest. Eintracht Frankfurt then provide the opposition at Craven Cottage in the only other confirmed friendly. Matches during a training camp in Germany cannot be watched by fans after a ruling by police and local authorities. Supporters can see the team face Manchester United in Stockholm, Villarreal at Elland Road and Milan in Dublin. After a game at Preston the champions face Milan in Hong Kong then play at Yokohama F Marinos on a first pre-season trip to Japan. Five days later they host Athletic Club in an unusual double header, the games kicking off at 5pm and 8pm. The Community Shield concludes their pre-season. At the Club World Cup they travelled from their Boca Raton training base in Florida to games in Philadelphia, Atlanta and Orlando. After missing out on that prize they face Palermo in Sicily to contest the inaugural Anglo Palermitan Trophy. After post-season matches in Malaysia and Hong Kong, the club start pre-season preparations against Leeds in Stockholm. They then play three games in the US – against West Ham in New Jersey, Bournemouth in Chicago and Everton in Atlanta –before ending with a home game against Fiorentina. A training camp in Austria and a relatively short trip to Glasgow to face Celtic are followed by three games in east Asia. After taking on Arsenal in Singapore, the club play in South Korea for the first time, against a K-League Select XI in Suwon, and stay in the country for a game against Spurs in nearby Seoul. Then come home games against Espanyol and Atlético Madrid. After two games at Chesterfield, against the League Two club and Monaco, Forest head to the Algarve to face Fulham and Estoril. They go local again after that, playing at Birmingham City before hosting Fiorentina and the Saudi Arabian club Al-Qadsiah. After local matches at Gateshead and South Shields the players head to the Algarve to face Sevilla and Sporting. Another trip aboard, to face Augsburg, follows but not before matches at Hearts, Hull and at home to Real Betis. The day after the match in Germany, preparations wrap up with a home game against Rayo Vallecano. After games at Reading and Luton come four matches in four countries in a fortnight. Arsenal in Hong Kong and Newcastle in Seoul are followed by a visit to Bayern Munich to face Harry Kane. Then comes the Uefa Super Cup fixture against Paris Saint-Germain in the north-eastern Italian city of Udine. Another club participating in the US Summer Series, with games in New Jersey (Manchester United), Chicago (Everton) and Atlanta (Bournemouth). Before that a pre-season training camp in Germany's Black Forest will include a game across the Swiss border against Grasshopper. Preparations conclude with Lille's visit to the London Stadium. A trip to Portugal for games behind closed doors is followed by a match at Stoke and a fixture against Lens at Walsall. Then the team head to Spain for a short camp that includes a friendly against Girona before they finish at home to Celta Vigo.
