Oleksandr Usyk takes on Tyson Fury again this weekend
Boxing chief Turki AlalShiekh has cheekily chided for “wasting time” on a film project with WWE icon Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, as the boxer gears up for his titanic rematch with on Saturday night.
Usyk has been collaborating with Johnson on the upcoming movie ‘The Smashing Machine’, which chronicles the life of MMA legend Mark Kerr and his reign in the UFC. The Rock is slated to portray Kerr, while Usyk will step into the acting ring for the first time as Kerr’s former adversary Igor Vovchanchyn.
And during a video call with AlalShiekh, the Saudi boxing supremo teased Usyk about his silver screen venture and his penchant for dancing during training. Al al-Sheikh quipped: “[Fury] have a lot of mistakes in the first fight, now he knows his mistake in his corner. Now it will be hard. No dancing anymore! Let’s see. You are wasting time by shooting a movie with the rock and you are wasting time dancing. Let’s see, let’s see.”
Usyk retorted confidently: “Hey my friend, I’m not resting. After the fight, I go to my gym. I prepare every time,” before Fury vowed to vanquish his opponent and reclaim the belts for the UK, prompting laughter from the Ukrainian fighter.
Actor Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has heaped accolades on Oleksandr Usyk following the announcement that the boxing champ will join the cast of ‘The Smashing Machine’. Taking to social media, Johnson expressed his excitement: “Don’t break my jaw champ. An honour to have the newly crowned Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World Oleksandr Usyk join our cast of ‘The Smashing Machine’.”
He continued: “Usyk will play the role of Igor Vovchanchyn – the real life Ukrainian MMA legend who had legendary fights during the extreme no holds barred era of Mixed Martial Arts and one historic fight against the Smashing Machine himself, Mark Kerr. I have huge respect for Oleksandr Usyk and [it] will be my honor to share the ring with him – as he knocks my jaw into next week. Looking forward to working with you my brother.”
Despite not having a high knockout rate since moving up to heavyweight – only achieving one stoppage in six fights against Daniel Dubois – Usyk is determined to defeat Tyson Fury by knockout in their upcoming rematch. After a split decision win over Fury last year, Usyk revealed to MailSport his mindset for the next bout: “Against Fury, it wasn’t me who decided this – it was the heavenly virtues who decided this was the way I would win [decision not KO]. But, if I have an opportunity to knock out Tyson Fury in the rematch, I will take it.”