Oleksandr Usyk is the latest Ukrainian boxing icon fighting for his country.
The heavyweight champion of the world announced on his verified social media pages on Monday that he’ll be taking arms and fending off Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“It’s time to unite!,” Usyk wrote. “A worthy son of his State is a member of the Territorial Defense.”
In the attached photo, Usyk can be seen dressed in all black and carrying an assault rifle.
Usyk has posted several videos on his page in recent days calling for a stop to the war.
“Friends, we need to unite together and overcome this, because we are faced with exceptional difficulties,” said Usyk. “I’m very overcome with emotions and I’m very concerned for my country and for our people. Friends, we must stop this war and we must do it together.”
In a separate video, Usyk said: “I’d like to speak to the people of Russia. If we consider ourselves as brothers, Orthodox ones, do not send your children to our country, do not fight with us. Also I’m addressing this to the President, Vladimir Putin. You can stop this war. Please just sit down and negotiate it with us without claims. Our kids, wives, grannies are hiding in the basements. We are here in our own country, we cannot do it any other way. We are defending. Stop this war, stop it. No war.”
On Sunday, Usyk’s close friend and fellow countryman Vasiliy Lomachenko also joined a defense battalion in Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi. Hall of Fame heavyweight champions and brothers Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko announced last week they would also provide support to fend off Russia’s aggression. Vitali is the mayor of Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital.
The WBA, WBO, IBF, and IBO champion Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs) is due for a rematch against Anthony Joshua later this year.
Negotiations for a second fight have been ongoing since the 35-year-old Usyk shocked Joshua and won a unanimous decision in September.
Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer and broadcast reporter. He’s also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, via email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com or on www.ManoukAkopyan.com.