WBA/WBO/IBF heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs) says that he, like millions of his compatriots, was inspired by the example of President Vladimir Zelensky, who, in a seemingly hopeless situation in the first hours, days and the weeks of the invasion of the Russian horde into Ukraine did not falter – and thus inspired the people to resist the invaders.
“When a difficult situation arises, many people try to get rid of it. But when Russia invaded (We are talking about a full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022; Russia invaded in February 2014 – ed.)he did not run away, says Usyk
The Telegraph. “Others told him that ‘we can take you out of Ukraine,’ but he remained to stand up for his country.”
“What do you think other Ukrainians like me thought when we saw how he behaved? Everyone understood that we should go and fight for our leader,” he said, although Ukrainians, in general, fight against the enemy for the motherland, not for the president. “If he had left in the first days of the war, it would have left the Ukrainian people without hope. But he didn’t. This is what inspired us to stand firm and fight. I’m sure if we had someone else as president, we wouldn’t be moving in the positive direction that we have.”
Usyk amazed the Arabs with a “magic trick” – video
Zelensky had previously urged Usyk to demonstrate in a rematch against British ex-champion Anthony Joshua (24-2, 22 KOs) that “Ukraine is a country of serious, strong, developed and spiritual people.” In the fall of 2021, Alexander outboxed him.
Usyk is going to return home as soon as his work in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) is completed. Home is not meant in Simferopol – here you have to wait a bit – the Armed Forces of Ukraine are working on this – but for now, to Kyiv.
“You can’t buy Sasha, he interferes with Russia” – Ekaterina Usik
“When I say something, my actions and words match,” he says. I am not a politician, I am an athlete. I just want to see my children, who are all in Europe now. I haven’t seen them properly for almost half a year, so I just want to hug them and eat with them. And then I will go to Kyiv.”
Usyk simultaneously collects donations for 100 cars for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Support this initiative – or
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