Oleksandr Usyk was in London recently to negotiate a deal for a rematch with Anthony Joshua.
Last Thursday, however, he returned urgently to Kiev, where he lives with his wife and their three children. The safety of his family and the protection of his country are his main concerns.
So it’s no surprise that his fight against Joshua is now on the ice indefinitely.
“We don’t want this mandatory rematch canceled, so we’ll wait for Oleksandra Usyk as long as it takes during these difficult times,” promoter Eddie Hearn told ESPN on Wednesday.
Like his compatriot Vasiliy Lomachenko, another Ukrainian star in the boxing world, Usyk joined the ranks of a territorial defense battalion.
Usyk outscored Joshua by unanimous decision in September to become unified heavyweight champion and he gave the latter a mandatory rematch. This second confrontation could have taken place in May or June, but at the heart of this Russian invasion of Ukraine, everything is in suspense.
“I really don’t know when I’ll be back in the ring,” Usyk told CNN on Wednesday. “My country and my honor are more important to me than a championship belt. »
Usyk has three children, and although he’s worried, he’s totally dedicated to the cause.
“I don’t want to shoot or kill anyone, but if someone attacks me, I won’t have a choice. »
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Hearn told ESPN he could present Joshua with an interim title fight if Usyk’s absence is prolonged.
“It’s a unique, personal and emotional situation. It’s not really possible to really capture the magnitude of what’s going on there and what’s going through the minds of the people there,” Hearn said. “Oleksandr Usyk has our respect. »
Usyk called the shelling “crazy”. “There is no fear, but rather a state of shock. How can such things happen in the 21st century? »
“When you hear the air raid siren, you hide. Boxing taught me to maintain my composure and to be mentally prepared. It helps me help people around me who are nervous and panicked. »
