REIGNING WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT champion Oleksandr Usyk has left war-torn Ukraine to begin his preparation for a rematch with Britain’s Anthony Joshua, his manager told AFP on Friday.
The 35-year-old holder of the WBA, IBF and WBO belts came back to Ukraine to defend his family as soon as Russia invaded his home country on 24 February.
“He went abroad to prepare for the rematch,” Usyk’s Kyiv-based manager, Yaroslav Lordkipanidze, told AFP by phone.
He said that Usyk left “several days ago”, without providing further details of his current whereabouts.
Usyk defeated then champion Joshua last September by a unanimous decision in front of a home crowd in London.
Joshua immediately voiced his readiness to face Usyk again, in a bout that might take place as early as this summer.
Usyk became one of several top Ukrainian sports people who expressed their intention to resist Russian invasion of their country.
The boxer said he was “defending my home, my wife, my children, my close ones” in an interview with CNN from the basement of his home in the Kyiv area, days after Russia’s President Vladimir Putin launched the invasion.
Former world lightweight champion and two-time Olympic gold medallist Vasiliy Lomachenko has also returned home to help defend the town of Belgorod-Dnistrovsky near the city of Odessa.
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What a man..great write up.
What a man, great attitude, great story.
So so strong, inspirational story Christy and well written.
You’ve got a purpose in life after such tragic events, keep up the tremendous work you were put here for !! Making such a difference to all those other lives.
Some story .
Has to be one of our best sportsmen across the codes, inspirational story.
Great lad and regrets really are futile.
This guy has a more full life than most perfect health people.
How many folks work in an office drive come home watch Netflix, having 2 legs or 1 leg would make little difference to many able body people’s lives, from the routine I see a lot of people living out
Grew up with Christy, such a great lad ,UP THE FLATS
My brother played in the same Ballymun United team as Christy. I loved watching that team play, Christy was a magic player and an absolute gent.