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The original was posted on /r/boxing by /u/Shinjetsu01 on 2025-06-04 14:54:04+00:00.
One of the most underrated parts of Oleksandr Usyk’s game is how he controls distance, not just to stay safe, but to completely control the pace and feel of the fight. Watching him, it’s like there’s an invisible force field around him because he’s always just out of range when you want to hit him, but always in range when he wants to do his work. I've mentioned this in a few other comments I've made and just wondered if it's a common observation.
He is a master at staying just far enough away that his opponent has to step in to land anything meaningful. And when they do? That’s when he starts that metronome. Whether it’s with quick jabs, short combos, or just a sidestep and reset, He makes them pay for trying to close the gap.
He doesn’t burn tons of energy running around the ring either, instead it’s constant subtle movement. Half-steps, pivots, shoulder feints just enough to keep them hesitating. If they rush in, he’s gone. If they don’t, he’ll pick away at them from the outside.
As boxing analyst Lawrence Kenshin put it in a breakdown, “Usyk’s footwork isn’t just beautiful — it’s weaponised.”
The real effect of this over 12 rounds is mental and physical fatigue. Opponents get frustrated, start reaching or loading up, and Usyk just keeps scoring while they miss.
It was what happened against Anthony Joshua. AJ had clear size and power advantages, but Usyk’s control of space made it almost irrelevant. He forced AJ to constantly reset and second-guess himself. After the fight, Compubox numbers showed Usyk outlanding him in almost every round which isn't odd for him, it's why he wins rounds so clearly.
Even Tyson Fury, one of the best heavyweights at the time Usyk faced him, looked flustered trying to chase Usyk down. In the later rounds, Usyk started stepping into the pocket to land clean combos, because Fury was too tired and off-balance to respond.
tl;dr - Usyk stays at the perfect distance, always just outside their range, always inside his own. It forces boxers to work harder than him just to engage. Over 12 rounds, that saps energy, messes with timing, and opens up to counters. It’s not flashy like a knockout punch but it’s surgical, and it’s a big part of why he’s been able to outbox bigger, stronger guys so consistently.