Oleksandr Usyk has had to embrace the highest of highs and the lowest of lows over the last year.
In September, he decisively beat Anthony Joshua via unanimous decision to claim four versions of the heavyweight title.
In February, while a rematch was being negotiated, his life took on an unimaginable turn when Russia waged a war on his homeland in Ukraine. In a heroic move, the 35-year-old Usyk put his career on pause and joined a territorial defense to protect his family and countrymen.
As the months-long battle in Ukraine continues, Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs) has decided to resume his career and will return to the ring Aug. 20 to defend his titles against Joshua in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
“Every day I was there. I was praying and asking: ‘Please, God, don’t let anybody try to kill me. Please don’t let anybody shoot me. And please don’t make me shoot any other person,” Usyk told reporters during a recent press gathering in London.
“I really didn’t want to leave our country. I didn’t want to leave our city. At one point I went to the hospital where soldiers were wounded and getting rehabilitation and they asked me to go, to fight [Joshua], to fight for the country. They said if you go there, you’re going to help our country even more instead of fighting inside Ukraine.”
Usyk was sporting a Ukrainian Cossack warrior haircut during the recent press conference and wore a shirt with a message that read “Colors of Freedom.” Usyk used his platform to further inform the public on the perils of his country.
“My family is not in Ukraine but a lot of my close friends are still in the country. I’m in touch with them every day. I ask them, because it’s very important for me, how are they feeling? Are they in a safe place? I want to live there and right after the fight I’m going back to Ukraine,” said Usyk.
“Sometimes I force myself to smile. Sometimes I force myself to sing. I don’t even know how to explain it.
“My children are asking: ‘Father, why do they want to kill us?’ … And I don’t know what to tell them.”
After enduring a war, a rematch against Joshua seems to pale in comparison.
“I have watched the first fight many times with my whole team,” said Usyk. “We look at the mistakes I made and we will work on them to make sure we don’t make them again. I don’t think about [Joshua] and I really don’t care whether he has a new tactic or a new trainer. I’m just thinking about me. We are working very hard, we are setting new goals and with the Lord’s help we will be better.”
Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer and broadcast reporter. He’s also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, via email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com or on www.ManoukAkopyan.com.