Wife of IBF / WBO / WBA heavyweight title holder Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs) Ekaterina Usik gave an interview to Vladimir Kobelkov for the YouTube channel ”
Kiev cake“.
In a conversation, Ekaterina spoke about the threats to Alexander, told why a lot of criticism poured out on her husband, spoke about the psychological state of Usyk on the eve of revenge against the unified champion from Britain Anthony Joshua (24-2, 22 KOs), and also gave a forecast for the future career of her head families.
– With this question, they have been brainwashing my husband for 8 years: “Sasha, whose Crimea?” Vov, you know, if I didn’t have relatives there, if I didn’t live there until 2017, I would say: “Crimea is Ukraine.” He’s really Ukraine, you know? I understood that I would not return there until he returned to Ukraine. I would say: “Yes, he is Ukraine,” and I would take all my relatives to Kyiv, to Europe, but my parents live there. And they don’t want to move anywhere from there. Do you understand? Even now. And all these 8 years this question: ” Whose Crimea? Whose Crimea?” He might have said, but Sanya, when he was in Kyiv, was recruited by some people. They say: “Sasha, if you say something to the question: “Whose Crimea?”, If you say that he is Ukrainian – we will come. We know where your wife lives. We’ll just go in and we’ll definitely find something from her. “Well, as we now see, they work like that. How Russia generally does everything. I understand that they would find something from me. Do you understand?
– Tell me, before these threats, before 2017, Oleksandr Usyk, were there any proposals to support a new pseudo-government or annexation? Negotiate with Usyk, with the most famous family on the peninsula and in Simferopol for sure?
– Wow, well, Sasha was almost gone. Seriously. He was mostly in Kyiv, you know? And what is there to talk about? What Russia? They are used to buying everything everywhere, that everything can be bought. Not everything can be bought, Vova. Love for his country, exactly how he loves, how Sasha loves Ukraine – you can’t really buy it for any money. Understand? I understand that money decides many things, but not everything. In our situation, not everything. Therefore, it would be useless even.
- “That was the last straw.” How Usyk decided on a rematch with Joshua – says the promoter
Why does Alexander receive so much criticism? Although I think the amount of hate has decreased now? For what?
— It’s all in social networks, Vov. Well, let’s be honest. How many people have we met in our lives, crowds of people, soldiers… Because before leaving, Sasha went to the hospital in Lvov to see the children, the wounded, the disabled. Wow, no one ever really said anything to his face. Understand? Nobody.
People from the Armed Forces of Ukraine were one of those people who influenced Alexander to leave.
I understood that I needed to leave. I understood, but I didn’t want to. I understood that he needed to be taken out urgently, because, first of all, he is the current world champion. He has serious work ahead of him, a serious fight, many serious moments that benefit Ukraine. Ukraine needs victories in any sport, Eurovision, everywhere, victories are needed at the front. People are tired of the war. Not that they are used to it, they are tired, they want some elementary positive things.
I’m sure Sasha’s fight will be on August 20th. Everyone will watch it, you know? I hope that at least for this hour everything will be calm in our country. Honestly. I’m just praying for it. Because it’s so important, you know? That is, Sasha is a symbol of Ukraine.
Wow, they came to our house. Everyone knew that this was Sasha’s house in Vorzel. That is, they were brought there. That is, they knew where they lived. Wow, seriously, it’s unlikely that if Sasha was there, they would put down their weapons and say: “Oh, Sasha.” They would just mock everyone. As we see from Bucha. He interferes. Sasha interferes. He interferes with Russia, too, you know. I’ll explain in what way. That’s when the hate starts, the question is already – are people really hating him or is it just some kind of paid garbage just to disconnect? Understand?
But we know that Sasha loves Ukraine. You look at his body. Even before the war. It is now all patriots have become. They have a flag there, they fill themselves with tattoos. A person glorifies his country all his life, a person goes out to Ukrainian music, songs all his life, a person simply adores Ukraine. He not only loves her, he adores her. We had offers to move wherever you wanted. You want to Canada, you want to the States. No, everything is only Ukraine. And I don’t even have any thoughts to stay somewhere.
- Why Usyk will beat Joshua again? Bob Arum explains
— You remembered for the twentieth number. As a commentator, I’m already starting to catch jitters, get ready. Alexander is doing an absolutely historic thing. He talked to the prince of Saudi Arabia and bought the TV rights for his duel, and handed them over to, let’s say, the people of Ukraine. Have you discussed this? Whose idea is this?
“Wow, I have nothing to do with it. This is Alexander, and he’s done well. I think it’s very cool. Although there are people who say: “Sasha, you know, we would even buy.” Everyone is waiting for this fight. Everyone is really waiting.
– You hinted at the psychological state of Alexander, but he doesn’t get either the news or Ukraine out of his head. We communicated with him, we correspond, and he is aware of all events. What’s really wrong with his psychology now? The most difficult moment in the career and history of our country.
– Wow, it’s difficult, of course, but he is trying to abstract. But you can’t cut off a man’s head. In any case, he understands, he is going through very much. It motivates, it definitely motivates even more. I think it will be very interesting, very beautiful, and God forbid, everything will turn out as it should.
– What will happen in the career of Oleksandr Usyk after this fight with Joshua?
– Everything will be fine. I want everything to be fine. I believe in Alexander. I never doubt him. I know his character. Belts should come home unambiguously. They must come to Ukraine in any case, because we all need it.
Meanwhile, Oleksandr Usyk spoke about his feelings before the rematch with Joshua.
