Olexandr Usyk, Ukraine’s heavyweight world champion in WBO (11-0, 10 KO’s) ceased to train with his long-standing coach James Ali Bashir. Alina Shaternikova, the vice president of the Professional Boxing League of Ukraine, reported that on Monday, February 13. According to her, Usyk will resume working with coach Anatoliy Lomachenko, the veteran of boxing and the father of another renowned Ukrainian champion Vasyl Lomachenko.
‘Usyk has been always training with Anatoliy Lomachenko. He has always been the mentor and the key authority for Olexandr. As tough and even rude as it sounds, James Ali Bashir was only a temporary substitution, while due to certain circumstances Lomachenko, Sr. and Usyk worked separately in different continents’, Shaternikova said.
The Ukrainian fighter added that his decision was about ‘nothing personal, just work’.
‘Bashir has his own ways, and at some point I ceased to feel OK about it. He’s a decent man and a nice coach, but that is not enough for me. This is why I decided to change things. I am really grateful for his being with me all this time,’ Usyk concluded.
