By: Sean Crose
WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk surprised a lot of people on Saturday when he signed with Saudi Arabia’s Skills Challenge Promotion. Talk to Rahim’s Radio seconds out, the undefeated Ukrainian boxer explains his reasoning. “Skills Challenge has the potential to host a fight with Tyson Fury,” he said simply. Clearly an undisputed heavyweight title fight is still a real possibility. Rahim asked about Usyk’s apparently passionate interaction with a Saudi prince present at the signing ceremony. “I think normal business relationships are not possible without good friendly relations between men,” he said.
When asked how he managed to continue his career while his homeland of Ukraine was still under attack by Russia, Usyk put his patriotism at the center. “It is truly the fight I will have for those who dare to fight on the front lines, those who have given their lives, for their country, for my country, this fight will be for them. .” Usyk then went on to explain current life in Ukraine.
“When you wake up at 1 p.m. to hear explosions, bombs, drones, rockets, rockets, whatever,” he said, “and you hear that building that you are living shaking, the windows are shaking, your daughter and your wife have run to the bomb shelter, you feel when you see the animals in your house huddled under the bed, you feel angry, Maybe it’s not anger, but you feel frustrated about it.”
Usyk wants to make it clear that people are affected by war. “Ordinary civilians, they are suffering every night,” said the undefeated player. “It’s not good. It has to be stopped. For me, I’m a rich person, I can live anywhere on earth, but Ukraine is my home and how can I leave home? in such a difficult, terrible time?” No matter how difficult the situation in his country is, Usyk said he sees it from a spiritual perspective. I know that there is eternal life after death if you save your soul…I ask God to save my soul and save (souls) of others.”
As things go by his ring career, Usyk is expected to face Daniel Dubois this August in Warsaw. What happens after that could be up to Fury – provided Usyk defeats Dubois, Fury’s compatriot.
