Russian President P.utin is a combat sports fan and trained in Judo since 11. Also a massive boxing fan. On Usyk vs Rico fight night, Russia aggressively began bombing Ukraine with 600 drones where 80 people were injured. The mass drone deployment began only 3 hours before the Usyk ring walk and he continued to bomb Ukraine throughout the card and the main event. The bombs dropped around 9pm Ukraine time, and Usyk walked at around 12am, 3 hours after the bombings began. They were still bombing at 1am, after the fight had concluded.
Usyk claimed after the fight, he was scared by news of the bombings. He mumbled something about his daughter being in a bomb shelter. At first it seemed like a pitiful excuse for what looked like a poor performance by Usyk, but could it be the real reason that Usyk performed several levels below his peak? Was Usyk genuinely perturbed and thrown off last night because of the mass bombings in Ukraine.. or is it just a lame excuse? Unique situation for a boxer to be in so who knows for sure...
That would be immensely impressive coming off a tough fight in his career, speaking in a language he doesn’t really speak, and thinking to use his family and daughter on the spot. Or it could just be the fact that Kyiv was heavily bombarded last night, one of the worst in months, and that he genuinely got a message from his young daughter who was in a bunker. Everyone can choose which version to believe.both can be true
in fact the best pr has truth to it
fifth_root Oleksandr's other talent public relations
In the ring after the fight when asked about his performance
He bought himself time and deflects by bringing up Russia bombing ukraine to twist the sympathies of the western world
That would be immensely impressive coming off a tough fight in his career, speaking in a language he doesn’t really speak, and thinking to use his family and daughter on the spot. Or it could just be the fact that Kyiv was heavily bombarded last night, one of the worst in months, and that he genuinely got a message from his young daughter who was in a bunker. Everyone can choose which version to believe.
Aham - very valid and convicting arguments you make.
fifth_root Oleksandr's other talent public relations
In the ring after the fight when asked about his performance
He bought himself time and deflects by bringing up Russia bombing ukraine to twist the sympathies of the western world
Ahead of his 2021 fight with Wilder, Fury slept on the hospital floor while his daughter fought for her life at Royal Lancaster Infirmary, after being born prematurely. Just reminding...
Most top-level boxers are extraordinary people. They’re still affected by things most normal people are and yet it’s easy to claim they’re fakes…:rolleyes:
Ahead of his 2021 fight with Wilder, Fury slept on the hospital floor while his daughter fought for her life at Royal Lancaster Infirmary, after being born prematurely. Just reminding...
By Usyk’s standards, his focus from the first bell was lacking. While it’s probably not the sole reason for his below-par performance, I find it hard to believe his focus would be so off if something far more pressing wasn’t occupying his thoughts. Also he was without his usual head coach and 10lbs heavier. Everything that could have gone wrong did, apart from the fact he still finished the job.
My point was not that his family was not in a shelter, but is surely well protected, because Usyk has the money to ensure it is, and in Ukraine, you buy anything literally - it is a place as corrupt.
But saying Рutin cares about Usyk and initiated the retaliation only to disturb him is laughable the least.
It's fairly obvious P.utin's retaliation was intentional, not coincidental. He knew Usyk was fighting in a unprecedented and historic card at the Egyptian pyramids. We're talking about one of the most internationally famous Ukrainian athletes of all time. If a hero falls, his people might follow. It's along the lines of military decapitation strategy / morale targeting / psychological warfare etc.
I don't think he was lying about his daughter being transported to a bomb shelter shortly before the fight. At first I thought he was making up some bs excuse but now after checking the timing it actually fits. The bombing happened in Kiev where his family lives. If any boxer heard that his child had been transported to a bomb shelter shortly before they're about to fight, that'd be enough to throw anyone off their game if we're being fair. And probably intentional by P.utin, hoping it would cause Usyk to lose which would have demoralized many Ukrainian people. It almost worked.
My point was not that his family was not in a shelter, but is surely well protected, because Usyk has the money to ensure it is, and in Ukraine, you buy anything literally - it is a place as corrupt.
But saying Рutin cares about Usyk and initiated the retaliation only to disturb him is laughable the least.
It is a pitiful excuse after being exposed for being chosen to win even when he loses. He was disturbed and had nothing meaningful to say, so he played the victim card. But a millionaire's family being threatened by a war in a country where money buys everything literally? How is it that nothing regarding this conflict didn't disturb him for the last couple of years, but only when we all saw the ugly reality?
I don't think he was lying about his daughter being transported to a bomb shelter shortly before the fight. At first I thought he was making up some bs excuse but now after checking the timing it actually fits. The bombing happened in Kiev where his family lives. If any boxer heard that his child had been transported to a bomb shelter shortly before they're about to fight, that'd be enough to throw anyone off their game if we're being fair. And probably intentional by P.utin, hoping it would cause Usyk to lose which would have demoralized many Ukrainian people. It almost worked.
I thought the same, bull**** excuse but who knows how he was feeling. He looked bone dry in the ring before the fight and didn’t look as focused as usual. I just thought he was taking the whole thing lightly but who knows. He still got battered and it’s no excuse why he looked so out of shape.
I thought the same thing, Usyk's facial expressions were looking way off before the fight. He didn't look focused, as if his mind was elsewhere. I thought he almost looked scared, but I guessed it was because he was wondering if he'd just cut too many corners in training and now realized he wasn't in great shape. There appeared to be more of a belly on him than there's ever been before. Turns out he might have been genuinely thinking about his daughter being transported to a bomb shelter at the time and maybe couldn't get fully into the fight mentally.
It is a pitiful excuse after being exposed for being chosen to win even when he loses. He was disturbed and had nothing meaningful to say, so he played the victim card. But a millionaire's family being threatened by a war in a country where money buys everything literally? How is it that nothing regarding this conflict didn't disturb him for the last couple of years, but only when we all saw the ugly reality?
I thought the same, bullshit excuse but who knows how he was feeling. He looked bone dry in the ring before the fight and didn’t look as focused as usual. I just thought he was taking the whole thing lightly but who knows. He still got battered and it’s no excuse why he looked so out of shape.