World Heavyweight Champion Oleksandr Usyk saidCNN that he does not know when he will fight again.
The Ukrainian player returned home to join his compatriots in the fight against Russia’s invasion of his country starting from February 24.
Usyk brought weapons to join the territorial defense battalion with his longtime friend and former light king Vasyl Lomachenko.
Lomachenko appears to be the runner-up to face new unified lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr in Australia this year while Usyk is set to stick to a rematch clause with Anthony Joshua.
The 35-year-old from Shypyntsi beat Brit at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last September to win the WBA, IBF and WBO titles in one of the performances of the year. However, with the conflict in Ukraine showing no signs of abating, Usyk’s comments have cast doubt on the scheduled May rematch.
“I really don’t know when I’ll be back in the ring,” Usyk said through his manager and translator Egis Klimas.
Described by CNN as ‘exhausted and emotional’ in the interview Usyk also said: “My country and my honor are more important to me than a championship belt.”
