Ukrainian boxing sensation Oleksandr Usyk draws inspiration from legendary rapper Eminem as he gears up to face Tyson Fury in the first-ever four-belt unification bout on February 17 in Saudi Arabia.
Despite the trash talk and mind games initiated by the Gypsy King, Usyk remains unfazed, even embracing Fury’s attempt to label him a “rabbit,” a term that the boxer now seems to wear with pride. Usyk, recalling Eminem’s nickname as a white rabbit, connects with the comparison and asserts his mental strength in the lead-up to the showdown.
The Ukrainian boxer told Sky Sports: “I got into his head and now instead of me, he thinks about a rabbit. Keep thinking, brother. I have listened to Eminem for many years, his mum used to call him a white rabbit. I don’t know, I like this rapper. Tony Bellew once said that I am a beast in boxing, I said: “Not really, I’m just a white rabbit”.
Despite facing significant disadvantages in weight, height, and reach against Fury, the 36-year-old Usyk, a two-time conqueror of Anthony Joshua, exudes confidence in his ability to secure victory and add another championship belt to his collection, which already includes the WBO, WBA, and IBF titles. Usyk remains resolute in his belief, stating, “It’s not ‘if’ I win but ‘when’ I win,” as he envisions raising his hand in triumph after the anticipated clash with Fury.
Now, besides the answer to the question of who will win in this unprecedented clash, all Eminem fans want to know if Marshall is going to fly to Saudi Arabia again to see the fight. Because this is where Oleksandr Usyk took the photo with Eminem on the sidelines of the Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou fight in Riyadh this October.
