IBF-WBA-WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk is putting his titles on the line this Saturday in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) against the man he dethroned last September, Anthony Joshua. After his demonstration of the first fight, the Ukrainian has an extra inner fire that pushed him to take this revenge: to fight for his country, at war against the Russian invasion.
Tell me why you fight, I’ll tell you who you are… If the motivation and inner fire of a boxer play a key role in his performance, which can be understood, we wish good luck to Anthony Joshua in advance (24-2, 22 KOs; 32 years old). The British fighter will try to regain the IBF-WBA-WBO heavyweight titles this Saturday in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) against the man who snatched him – without discussion – last September, Oleksandr Usyk (19-0, 13 KO; 35 years old).
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With as a bonus for this revenge in the form of the biggest fight of the year in the queen category the promise for the winner to receive the prestigious belt The Ring, just dropped by Tyson Fury. But for the Ukrainian, it’s not just sporting prestige at stake. Very far from it. The former undisputed light heavyweight champion, who can become the first man in history to win the title The Ring in these two divisions (Evander Holyfield could have done it but the belt of the American magazine had been removed during part of his reigns), will fight for his pugilistic legend but also and above all to send a message to the world.
That of a Ukrainian on the roof of the planet while his nation has been bogged down for months in a war following the Russian invasion. Quickly returned to the country following the outbreak of the conflict, via Poland then with a long journey by car, Usyk then joined the reserve army on the side of kyiv. The contractual rematch for Joshua was then put on hold. But since then, the boy who logically admits having “had trouble concentrating on boxing in recent months” has decided to fight and the Ministry of Defense has granted him permission to leave Ukraine to prepare. With a whole people behind.
“He made his decision in these circumstances after receiving massive support from his Ukrainian compatriots, explains Alexander Krassyuk, his co-promoter. He was in contact with high-ranking army officials, he visited fighters injured in hospitals, he also spoke with a lot of fans, and in every conversation he was given blessing and support to take this fight, people wanted him to fight, to win, to have the Ukrainian flag floats in the air, may the Ukrainian anthem resound across the planet.” An idea also supported by two local boxing legends: the brothers Vitali and Wladimir Klitscho, former heavyweight world champions very committed to the defense of their country (Vitali is the mayor of kyiv).
“I spoke with them and both supported me in my decision to take this fight, told Usyk at the beginning of April on the Blockasset YouTube channel. It was not easy but I made this choice.” And he intends to take advantage of this planetary exposure to mark the occasion. “Few champions can share their experience of war before going into the ring to defend their crown, reminds Krassyuk. The world must know that Ukraine is a country of freedom, transparency, power, spirituality and people few people can get that message across to hundreds of millions of people but Usyk can do it through boxing. History will judge how good this man is.”
“There are pros and cons, it’s anything but easy, but seeing the Ukrainian flag being waved, our national anthem being played and having one of the country’s ambassadors before the eyes of the world with the right frame of mind can turn out to be much more positive than negative, estimated Wladimir Klitschko a few weeks ago. We need support because we stand for the democratic principles of freedom and freedom of choice.” Just imagine Usyk after a second straight win over Joshua, mic in hand, flag on his shoulder, belts around his waist , critics of Vladimir Putin in the mouth, to understand how much his words in such a framework would carry.
“A very important message can be sent with such an event, supported Vitali Klitschko. We do not know what will happen to our country in the near future. I will give advice to Oleksandr on the kind of message he can pass.” The last days before the fight served as a reminder that his motivation had not budged. During training open to the public on Tuesday, Usyk landed with a blue and yellow t-shirt (Ukrainian flag) adorned with a few words: “The colors of freedom”.
For the last press conference, this Wednesday, he arrived in traditional Cossack costume – a people from Ukraine and Russia used by the country at war as a national representation through the figure of the Cossack Mamay – before intoning after face to face Oy U Luzy, Chervona Kalynasong of the Ukrainian People’s Army which was fighting for the independence of the country, towards the end of the First World War, a patriotic song that has become popular again since the Russian invasion thanks in particular to the singer of the Ukrainian group Boombox, Andriy Khlyvnyuk, who took over the Kalashnikov a cappella chorus by hand before leaving for the front (the group had canceled its European tour to take up arms).
The group Pink Floyd even set the video posted by Khlyvnyuk to music to raise funds for Ukraine. Usyk, who carries around a stuffed Eeyore (Winnie the Pooh character) given by his daughter as “a talisman” that he must “always keep close to (him)”, also ensured that the TV broadcast of this second fight against Joshua is available for free to everyone in Ukraine.
Olympic gold medalist among amateurs in 2012, still undefeated among the pros and unified champion in two categories, Oleksandr Usyk – who only speaks Ukrainian and now refuses to say words in Russian – already has his place in the warm among the best boxers of his generation and even in history. But this time, Joshua or not, belt The Ring or not, the most important thing happens outside the ring: “Compared to war, boxing is child’s play”. “When you look at the images of his training camp, he looks like a cyborg, points out Krassyuk. He has never been so determined in his entire life.” Good luck, Anthony Joshua.
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