The ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine has become the focal point of world, and has made its impact across all aspects of society all around the globe. Amidst the crisis, former heavyweight boxing champion brothers Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko announced their partake in taking up arms against Russia, and now, reigning unified heavyweight titleholder Oleksandr Usyk has joined the nationalist cause and has called for unity among Ukrainians.
Friends we must stop this war and we must do it together: Oleksandr Usyk sends a message to his compatriots
In the wake of Russian President Vladimir Putin launching a military operation in Ukraine, many Ukrainians have fled the country. Usyk, who was in the UK earlier this week, have returned back and taking it to Instagram, responding to the allegations that the boxer had ‘ran away’.
The 35-year-old posted a 38-second clip on Instagram, with the caption “NO WAR”, while speaking in his mother tongue.
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“Dear Ukraine and dear Ukrainians, some wrote about me running away. Not true, I had a work trip and now I’m back. I’m home,” said Usyk, “Friends, we need to unite together and overcome this, because we are faced with exceptional difficulties.”
“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,” he added.
Coming to his professional boxing career, Usyk is gearing up for a rematch against former unified champion Anthony Joshua, the Briton whom he defeated via unanimous decision at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on 25th September last year to claim the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles.
Joshua vs Usyk 2 is currently in the works and Eddie Hearn recently stated that he is targeting a May or June date for the rematch, while hinting that the venue may be somewhere in the Middle East.
Highlights:
- Unified world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has called for the Ukrainian people to come together and take a stance against the Russian invasion of the country
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Recently, former heavyweight world champions Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko decided to take up arms with Ukraine’s military against Russia
