Comments Thread For: Usyk Not Interested in Povetkin Due To Political Overtones

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

Oleksandr Usyk reveals that he was no longer interested in facing Alexander Povetkin in a heavyweight fight - due to the political overtones being suggested. Usyk and Povetkin are both Olympic gold medal winners for their respective countries.
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[Willowthewisp]

he.... already fought Gassiev I don't get it.

[Citizen Koba]

he.... already fought Gassiev I don't get it.

If I had to guess it'll be a result of something in the Russian or Ukrainian press.

Also Povetkin's a Russian fighting out of Russia whereas Murat is a Caucasian (an ethnic minority in Russian eyes) based in the US. I also get the impression Sasha's a lil bit of a posterboy for Russian nationalism... though I ain't got time now to figure what led me to that conclusion - sure I heard something though.

EDIT: Something to do with Sasha's tattoos or smthing..

[minemax]

he.... already fought Gassiev I don't get it.

He had to. That was the tournament final. The four belts were on the line. But why fight Povetkin now?

[Oldskoolg]

Gassiev is an Ossetian not a Russian there is an ethnic difference. The ossestians are more related to Iranians and other true Caucasus peoples and are often referred to as “blacks” by Slavic Russians of the north. Big difference between povetkin (who also follows the folk religion of the Slavic peoples and is a huge Slavic nationalist) and Gassiev. Even the names are different. This is literally like taking a white American and a Mexican American and calling them the same.

[Scopedog]

Its a fight I only care about because I think it's stylistically a good matchup, I don't give a damn about the politics. They can just hold it at a neutral venue if it's the big a deal.

[Citizen Koba]

he.... already fought Gassiev I don't get it.

Ah here we go.. I can't speak for the impartiality of the article but there is something of a history of sporting events involving Russian athletes coming with an added political dimension...

https://worldsportnews.org/2018/09/19/boxing-povetkin-in-portrait-*****s-knight-in-the-ring/

[Boris Johnson!]

This is literally like taking a white American and a Mexican American and calling them the same.

exactly, literally identical, gassiev trained with abel as he recognised 'Mexican style' from his hometown

[baroidi]

If I had to guess it'll be a result of something in the Russian or Ukrainian press.

Also Povetkin's a Russian fighting out of Russia whereas Murat is a Caucasian (an ethnic minority in Russian eyes) based in the US. I also get the impression Sasha's a lil bit of a posterboy for Russian nationalism... though I ain't got time now to figure what led me to that conclusion - sure I heard something though.

EDIT: Something to do with Sasha's tattoos or smthing..

Povetkin is into some sort of Russian folk religion that has elements of Russian nationalism. I agree with Usyk, this match would not be a good idea...

[elfag]

lame. Ugysk would have embarrassed AJ by defeating Povetkin better than AJ did. Would be the second cruiserweight to defeat an opponent better than AJ.

Everyone knows AJ's stock has dropped off.