Oleksandr Usyk is regularly pictured with black straps on both arms during training – but it is backed up by science.
Usyk, 37, will look to repeat his previous feat of defeating Tyson Fury, 36, when the two go toe-to-toe at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday evening.
The Ukrainian is the only man to have beaten Fury as a professional and is yet to taste defeat in the paid ranks since turning pro in 2013 after winning the World Championships in 2011 (amateur) and a gold medal at the London Olympics in 2012.
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Although he has filled out and jumped up to heavyweight in recent years, the unified heavyweight champion previously reigned supreme in the cruiserweight division after being crowned as the undisputed champion when he defeated Murat Gassiev in July 2018.
Usyk is a rather eccentric character and is seemingly unfazed both inside and outside a boxing ring.
And he is no stranger to employing alternative training methods, having previously been pictured dancing and juggling tennis balls in the build-up to fights.
This time around, fans could not help but notice that the Ukrainian had used black straps fastened to his arms. But there is a method behind the odd addition to his equipment.
According to talkSPORT, the straps restrict blood flow to Usyk’s arms, which, as a result, contributes to improved muscle mass.
The official name for the straps is ‘pneumatic restriction cuffs’, and by restricting the blood flow/oxygen to the muscle, they tire quicker.
The method then makes the muscles temporarily stronger as blood builds in the arms, causing them to swell.
Swelling can then lead to the muscle gaining mass and strength.
Boxing Science refers to the method as one that can also “minimise joint stress whilst providing a potent stimulus for hypertrophy and strength development”.
The technique can also be used to help weight gain for those moving up the divisions or even as a tool to aid rehabilitation from injury.
“BFR [blood flow restriction] training enables us to do this without having to use high volumes and minimises the risk of causing further injury to the afflicted limb”, read the report.
Of course, Usyk will not use the bands when he faces Fury on Saturday evening.
How to watch Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk
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To watch Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk go head to head, there are three options:
1.) You can watch the rematch on DAZN with no subscription required. All you need to do is buy the PPV for £24.99 and you will automatically get a seven-day free trial which you can later cancel to stop the subscription from rolling over. You’ll be able to stream the match on a range of devices including PlayStation, Chromecast, and Smart TV. If you do decide to roll over your free trial, you’ll move onto a monthly plan costing £24.99 per month and get access to over 150 fights every year, with the option to cancel with 30 days’ notice.
2.) You can also tune in live on Sky Sports Box Office (Sky channel 491). The event is priced at £24.95 for Sky customers in the UK and $27.95 if you’re based in the Republic of Ireland. Sadly Sky does not offer free trials, but Sky subscribers can book the match here and if you’re new to Sky, you can sign up here.
3.) Finally, you can watch the fight on TNT Sports with a Prime Video subscription (free for the first month then £8.99/ month), provided you have discovery+ (from £3.99/ month) as part of your subscription. If you don't fancy shelling out, you can simply cancel your subscription after the first month.
Topics: Boxing, Oleksandr Usyk, Tyson Fury
Luke Davies