By: Sean Crose
As negotiations for an undisputed heavyweight title fight between him and Tyson Fury dragged on endlessly, WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk did his part to help those who lost their lives. Its Ukrainian compatriots, who have been affected by Russia’s bloody invasion that began more than a century ago. last year. “I am motivated by the idea that I have to help my country, my people,” Usyk recently said. CNN. “If I have the ability, if I have the strength to do it, if I can do it.” For Usyk, the issue transcended society and politics and reached the spiritual realm.
“God gave me the opportunity to appear on TV,” he said, “so that, thanks to God, I am known in the sports world.” Therefore, Usyk is an ambassador for UNITED24, the organization CNN described as “an organization established by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky for the purpose of raising funds for Ukraine.” Indeed, the undefeated boxer was particularly interested in the story of Diana Savenok, a mother of two whose apartment complex was destroyed during Russian shelling. Suffice to say, the complex is currently under reconstruction. “Usyk has donated $205,000 to rebuild Savenok’s apartment complex,” CNN write, “with more than 250,000 USD total increase at the time of publication. According to the boxer, scaffolding was erected around the property as rebuilding work was underway.”
Savenok said she was moved to tears when she received the good news that her house was being rebuilt. Becoming a world-famous fighter allowed Usyk the opportunity to attract the attention of the war. “This is an opportunity for me to share with everyone what is happening,” he said. “Many people around the world think this is just some kind of game going on here, and we’re just making it all up.”
Usyk, who was in England when the invasion of Russia began, returned home and joined the defense of his country. On the boxing front, he won his second bout against Anthony Joshua – with whom he won the title from the start – last year via decision and is now teaming up with Fury and his team to turn hope. Their long-held fighting hopes come true. Usyk told CNN, however, it’s not easy to focus on sweet science while the world is literally exploding around him. “He admitted,” CNN wrote of Usyk, “it’s been difficult to focus on boxing since the war began.”
