Could Joseph Parker be the man to finally end Oleksandr Usyk’s reign over boxing’s heavyweight division? According to his coach Andy Lee, the answer is a confident yes—and not only that, they believe Parker can do it within six rounds.

Usyk, fresh off his emphatic five-round demolition of Daniel Dubois at Wembley, now stands as the undisputed heavyweight champion and arguably the pound-for-pound king of boxing. With victories over Dubois, Anthony Joshua (twice), and Tyson Fury, the Ukrainian superstar has carved out a path of total dominance in the sport’s most prestigious division.

But Lee, a former middleweight world champion and now one of the sport’s most respected trainers, insists that Parker is the stylistic kryptonite Usyk has yet to encounter. With the WBO interim title already in his possession and an impressive streak of victories over Deontay WilderZhilei Zhang, and Martin Bakole, Parker is arguably in the form of his life.

And now, his team is ready to go all-in.

“We Can Beat Him—and Early”

Speaking on the Ariel x Ade Show, Lee didn’t hold back when explaining why he and Parker believe Usyk is beatable—and how they plan to do it.

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“What we work on in the gym is being ready at all times and body language in the ring, and keeping your feet in a position where you’re always ready to punch,” Lee explained.

It’s not just about technique. It’s about psychological warfare, and according to Lee, this is where many of Usyk’s opponents have already lost before the final bell.

“If you are resting and you are taking a break, you don’t show it. You look as if you are ready to attack and you’re ready to punch. That’s basically what we do and that’s what Usyk does,” he added.

Lee’s strategy revolves around denying Usyk the mental cues he uses to time his relentless pressure. The Ukrainian is a master of capitalizing on small pauses—moments when his opponents reset or try to catch their breath. That’s when he strikes. Lee believes that by eliminating those visual signals, Parker can flip the pressure dynamic early in the fight.

And if Parker can start fast and maintain the mental intensity, a six-round victory isn’t out of the question.

Why Parker Is Different

Usyk has consistently made a habit of defeating bigger men—fighters with more raw power and physical size. But in Parker, Usyk would face a more comparable opponent in terms of size and movement.

“Usyk feeds off his opponent’s breaks,” Lee explained. “But Joe has a similar size to him, can fight at a similar pace. He’s a crafty, clever boxer, Joseph. People don’t realise how clever he is and how he can adjust.”

Indeed, Parker has always been a bit of an enigma in the heavyweight division. While his calm demeanor and soft-spoken personality might not scream “killer instinct,” his recent performances show a fighter evolving into a complete, cerebral powerhouse.

Against Wilder, Parker neutralized the most feared right hand in boxing with poise and precision. Against Zhang, he frustrated the Chinese brawler with his speed and angles. And against Bakole, he showed he could go to war and win the tough rounds.

Now, the challenge is different—but not impossible.

The Mental Game Is the Key

Lee emphasized that the key to beating Usyk is not just physical—but mental.

“He can pressure, pressure, pressure, feint with his magic wand right hand and he just burns them up,” said Lee. “They are mentally exhausted as much as physically.”

That’s where Parker’s mental maturity and recent discipline come in. A fighter once criticized for taking his foot off the gas late in fights now looks reconditioned, focused, and aware of what it takes to win at the elite level. Lee credits that evolution to their relentless preparation and attention to psychological detail.

“We won’t be taking breaks and we’ll just have to match him. I just love the fight,” Lee continued. “Technically it’s a great fight from two really good heavyweight boxers. One of them, an all-time great, and Joseph a Hall of Famer—and possibly an all-time great if he got the win over Usyk.”

Respecting the Greatness—But Not Intimidated

Lee made it clear that they respect Usyk, calling him one of the best technical boxers of all time. But that admiration doesn’t translate into intimidation. Instead, Parker and his camp are obsessed with finding the gaps, the subtle edges that could break open the Ukrainian’s seemingly impenetrable style.

“You have to match his pace, and that’s mentally as well as physical,” Lee said.

They’re not looking to just “survive” against Usyk. They’re aiming to match him, frustrate him, and then finish him—possibly even before the halfway mark.

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The Stakes Couldn’t Be Higher

While Usyk basks in global acclaim and the top spot in the pound-for-pound rankings, Joseph Parker quietly waits in the shadows, building a resume and sharpening a strategy that could turn the heavyweight division on its head.

With Tyson Fury’s future uncertainAnthony Joshua in line for a different title path, and Deontay Wilder’s decline, Parker represents perhaps the final frontier of legitimate competition for Usyk in the current heavyweight landscape.

And if what Lee says is true, it’s not just another title defense for Usyk—it could be the biggest threat to his legacy to date.

What Happens Next?

No official fight date between Parker and Usyk has been confirmed, but the momentum is building. With Parker holding the WBO interim belt, and his performances now impossible to ignore, the WBO could mandate the fight in the coming months.

And when it happens, Andy Lee believes they’ll shock the world—by stopping the king in just six rounds.

“Joseph Parker isn’t coming to take part. He’s coming to take over,” Lee said with quiet confidence.