To this day, Egis Klimas leaves the technical details of fight preparation and analyzing the next bout – in this case, Saturday’s unified heavyweight title defense against former champion Tyson Fury – to others.
Klimas knows well from his 12-year-long managerial bond to three-belt heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk that what matters most is Usyk’s character and how this unique, dedicated, empathetic human being has a goodness about him that has repeatedly led him to success.
Klimas has operated with a handshake deal with Usyk ever since representing the then-Olympic heavyweight champion and his Ukrainian countryman (and two-time gold-medalist) Vasiliy Lomachenko as they were turning pro following the Summer Games in London.
“I gave them a tour of New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas to see all the different promoters, and Top Rank gave a very good contract offer to ‘Loma,’ but the contract for Usyk wasn’t so good,” Klimas recalled.
Klimas was stumped, asking Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum about the disparity.
“All the cruiserweights are in Europe,” Arum responded. “What am I going to do with a cruiserweight?”
Klimas asked about another scenario: What if the manager only represented Usyk? Would Arum have interest in signing him then?
“Most likely not,” Arum replied.
Revisiting the episode Wednesday, Arum told BoxingScene he was hamstrung because then-broadcast partner HBO “didn’t have the stomach to give air time to cruiserweights.”
Klimas took it upon himself to bear the bad news: While Lomachenko was wanted by Top Rank with a lucrative deal forthcoming, Usyk was going to have to part with his close friend for a separate journey.
Lomachenko would proceed on to a world title fight in his second bout, going on to win world titles in three divisions while elevating to best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
Usyk, meanwhile, absorbed this:
“As much as I would like you to stay in the U.S., I don’t think it’s going to be a good thing for you … you better go home and we’ll see what’s available for you in Ukraine and we’ll stay in contact until you’re ready to go to the global level,” Klimas recalls telling Usyk.
Perhaps it’s little solace to Usyk, but when asked if he would’ve figured out a way to bring Usyk to his stable if he knew the fighter would become who he has, Arum said, “What, are you f—ing crazy? Of course!”
After debuting with nine fights mostly in or near Kiev, Usyk landed a WBO cruiserweight title fight in Poland in 2016 and proceeded to stand as undisputed 200-pound champion two years later.
Klimas said he knew Usyk had the potential to become one of the sport’s rare talents, someone who now stands beside four-division champions Terence Crawford and Naoya Inoue as modern-day pound-for-pound kings.
Usyk elevated to become a two-division undisputed who has defeated two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua twice by unanimous decision, stopped current IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois and is coming off a split-decision triumph over Fury on May 18 for all four belts.
Klimas has continually been impressed by the man’s determination and sincerity, explaining those attributes fuel the boxing virtuoso.
“Always (believed in Usyk) … his personality, the way he interacts with others … I just saw that something special in him,” Klimas said. “His brains, his dedication, all that.”
Usyk, 37, is a generational talent in the ring thanks to his sophisticated skills from a southpaw stance, his strength in handling the move up in weight and his fitness to wear down all of the younger talent he has battled.
“He’s very talented at anything he does – you can sit and talk with him about any subject and he can carry on with any person,” Klimas said.
That humble approach was seen in the summer, when Usyk starred alongside “The Rock,” in the upcoming film, “The Smashing Machine,” in Vancouver. During breaks, the talent and other top film makers would move to the front of the food line.
Not Usyk. He’d start in the rear and chat with whomever was there next to him until his time for a plate arrived.
“That means a lot … and there’s so many other things like that I’ve seen him do over time … the way he conducts and carries himself around people is unbelievable,” Klimas said.
While England’s Fury 34-1-1 (24 KOs) is more of a showman apt to say wild and crass things for the sake of his own authenticity and fight promotion, Usyk 22-0 (14 KOs) maintains a calm, respectful demeanor, playing along when the situation allows, but typically remaining undeterred from the task at hand.
Klimas is privy to the depth of Usyk’s sensitivity and the power of the emotion he carries within him, which was revealed during his post-fight news conference when Usyk broke down in tears revisiting the time he missed with his late father while training to become an all-time great.
During the Fury fight, Usyk was trailing on the scorecards when he memorably asked his cornerman to hand him a cross, which he clutched and prayed upon.
“I know you’re leading me the way … if I really deserve this, grant me this victory,” Usyk prayed. “I’m not the principle. You’re the principle. And this is all for you and your glory.”
An astounding rally, in which Usyk knocked down Fury for the decisive points, followed.
Klimas foresees another strong showing from Usyk, with no reports of injury or discomfort from training camp.
“I don’t need to talk to him about the fight, his feelings, what he’s going to do in there,” Klimas said.
With Usyk at 37, having swept two fights from Joshua and perhaps doing the same against Fury with that stoppage of Dubois on his resume, there is some speculation he could win and leave the sport – as Lomachenko is also mulling.
“It depends what’s on our plate – we would consider the possibility of Dubois if he’s still the IBF champion. Because (Usyk) could become undisputed for a third time,” Klimas said, “That’s something.
“On another hand, he could go back to Fury, or go back to cruiserweight … it’s hard to say.”
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