Oleksandr Usyk speaks to Russia in video: “What Hitler doesn’t do, your president keeps doing”

By: Sean Crose

In a video released earlier this week, WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk addressed the Russian nation. Usyk is Ukrainian and helped his country’s defense forces during the nearly year-long war between his country and Russia. “You attacked Ukraine,” he says in the video (via translation from weekly news) is supposed to protect those Russians who don’t want your protection.”

Usyk goes on to point out that the same excuse/tactic has been used by the former Soviet Union before. “The same way you attacked Czechoslovakia many years ago,” Usyk continued, “you went to other cities and Georgia, etc.”

The undefeated fighter then argued that Russia was not helping anyone in its invasion of Ukraine, which began last February, at least to the Russian people. “You go everywhere with protection, but you don’t protect the Russians in Russia itself,” Usyk said. You are not protecting them in any way.

Usyk ended his roughly half-minute speech by comparing Russia’s current actions to those of Nazi Germany, even though Putin himself accused Ukraine of fascism. “You are fighting against fascism and Nazism (sic) does not exist,” Usyk said. You are the Third Reich in all its manifold manifestations. What Hitler doesn’t do, your president keeps doing. You can imagine? Correct.”

With that in mind, Usyk has been showing a softer side of his personality. He was arrested to tease Tyson Fury, with whom he was negotiating to fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world. “Belly,” he called in a social media post, “where are you?”

Of course, Fury launched his own social media fight with Usyk, calling him “middleweight”, since there is a huge size difference between Usyk and the 6’9 WBC heavyweight champion and linear.