This weekend Heavyweight showdown between Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua It’s not just a fight for prizes or a chance to redeem for Britons.
Let’s scratch the surface, and it’s a war where the tumultuous geopolitical landscape reveals uncomfortable truths and complicated debates. Luke G. Williams Preview the action and review the context.
“How does one hate a country, or love a nation?” – Ursula K. Le Guin
At this week’s press conference ahead of Saturday night’s WBA Super, IBF and WBO world heavyweight title fight against Anthony Joshua, champion Oleksandr Usyk donned traditional Ukrainian Cossack style.
After the traditional confrontation photo opportunity between the two men, Usyk stood in the middle of the stage and began to sing. In the midst of the gathering of international press, it is unlikely that many would recognize his chosen song or realize its meaning.
‘Oi u luzi chervona kalyna’ was written in 1875 and has since become a rallying call for Ukrainian independence and national pride. Considered by many Ukrainians to be the ‘second national anthem’, during the years the country was a republic of the Soviet Union – from 1919 until 1991 – singing ‘Oi u luzi chervona kalyna’ in public most likely you imprisoned, beaten or deported. . Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, the song has become a rallying cry – an indomitable symbol of resistance against a nation’s aggression.
Such sharing and patriotic songs are an age-old totem of Ukrainian culture. As Lubow Wolynetz, curator of the Stamford Ukrainian Library and Museum, describes it, songs are an important method for Ukrainians to “record our historical past, honoring his actions. hero”.
They are songs, Wolynetz argues, that help Ukrainians “grieved by ruin and destruction… express their hopes and dreams… bring solace in sad times… rebuke the weak, the traitor; support and strengthen one’s beliefs [and] uplift the spirit of lofty ideals”.
Usyk’s rendition of ‘Oi u luzi chervona kalyna’ accomplished what had been – for the 35-year-old – a remarkable journey from a conflicting and controversial political figure, even causing controversy. division at home comes a man who now seems to carry the weight of a nation’s hopes and expectations. The undisputed former cruiser champion has been taken on the role of a patriotic icon.
Before Russia invaded Ukraine in February, Usyk appeared to have resisted calls to make public political comments or publicly criticize Russia, which has a troubled and complicated relationship with Russia. Ukraine intensified after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, the disputed territory where Usyk was born. January 17, 1987.
Simultaneously with his rise to boxing stardom – facilitated by a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics, his sensational run from his professional debut in November 2013 to winning the crown. undisputed cruiser crown in July 2018 and then Joshua’s three heavyweight alphabet titles last year – Usyk has been criticized by some in Ukraine for his perceived attitude is conflict and conciliation over the complex geopolitical issues associated with relations between Russia and Ukraine.
Usyk’s Russian Orthodox Christian faith has been questioned by some of his countrymen, while his 2016 comment that “Crimea is Crimea” (as opposed to “Crimea is Ukrainian”) particular controversy. His victory over Joshua last September – hailed by the boxing world as a master class – was, however, not greeted with the acclaim of the entire nation of his homeland.
“I’m delighted with Usyk’s win.” Was the harsh response of the influential activist Serhii Sternenko. “Now the world champion as a heavyweight will be able to tell the world that we are not at war, the Russians are our brothers, and Crimea is God.
However, much has changed in the months since Usyk defeated AJ. After Vladimir Putin’s February invasion of Ukraine, Usyk abandoned his previous immoral and ambiguous stance and decisively nailed his colors to the masts of Ukraine’s independence and resistance.
Boxing fans are all too familiar with Usyk as the prankster and Usyk as the entertainer. Here’s the man who – after all – did the coin tricks at the public gym this week, and dressed up as the Joker in his last press conference before his first fight with Joshua.
However, now, the boxing prince is putting on a more serious face and fighting for a higher goal than personal glory. Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Usyk, through his performance in the rematch with Joshua, to “show that Ukraine is a country of serious, strong, dynamic people.” , develop and have spirit”.
“His mission is an inspiration,” stated Alex Krassyuk, Usyk promoter. “[He wants] to give more motivation to people, more motivation for soldiers to fight hard for their homeland”.
Of course, the world heavyweight championship often serves as a lightning rod for matters of patriotism, as well as national and national pride. When Jack Johnson destroyed Tommy Burns and then Jim Jeffries, he shattered the hateful myth of white supremacy that built the U.S. constitution and growing sense of self-image. ; when Joe Louis massacred Max Schmeling, he dealt a blow to Adolf Hitler’s vile Nazi regime; and in almost every case that Muhammad Ali fought after converting to Islam and rejecting his ‘slave’ Cassius Clay, fundamental issues related to race, religion, and nationalism , as well as American foreign and domestic policy, sometimes emerges below the surface.
In the years to come Usyk can be seen as Ali’s true heir (with whom he shares a birthday January 17), a man worthy of the rare title of ‘champion of the people’ when bestowed, a man is charismatic and ready to ‘fight. for a cause ‘creates the potential for him to cross national boundaries.
With the near-global condemnation that welcomed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Usyk was able to simultaneously become a symbol of Ukraine’s patriotism but also a figure of global popularity. broader, transcending geographic boundaries the way Ali did, albeit on a smaller scale.
For a while, it looked like linear champ Tyson Fury, through his inspirational comeback and championing the cause of mental health awareness, could take the shirt ‘home’ the people’s champion’, but the Gypsy King’s case so recognized has unfortunately fallen under the weight of its own incomprehensible contradictions.
While Fury is a man of considerable sound (and fury) that often makes no sense, Usyk is a man of relatively few words, all sincere. The Gypsy King may have talked about donating his multi-million dollar battle wallet to the homeless and fighting on free TV, but it is Usyk who is using Joshua rematch as a means of was able to raise money for his new establishment of the Fund for the Supply of Military Vehicles and Food to the Ukrainian People, and it was Usyk who ensured that the war would be provided free of charge to all Ukrainians through the media. state picture and his own youtube channel.
This is not to say that Usyk has no contradictions. There’s no denying the irony of a man fighting for Ukrainian freedom in a sports competition organized by a regime in Saudi Arabia that is authoritarian in nature and restricts opponents. with Putin’s Russia is undeniable, although such economic and ethnic compromises are common in the almost lawless professional prize market.
However, Usyk’s popularity seems to survive the stench of sports wash. It was a popularity that, interestingly enough, extended to a large segment of British fighting fans, raising the question of the loyalty and patriotism of the participants involved in Anthony Joshua. . In particular, is it the patriotic duty of British combat fans to support “their men” this weekend?
It’s a debate that boxer Gamal Yafai sparked this week on Twitter when he declared: “Saturday night in Ukraine, no one wants to see Usyk lose. Saturday night in the UK they will have hundreds of thousands of people wanting to see AJ lose, don’t be one of them. Support one of ours. “
Of course, to a hated, racist minority of the British public, Joshua would never be considered British. But those types of people aren’t worth being at – they can be left to their anonymous Twitter accounts and the hollow triumphalism around Brexit that they believe has validated their pathetic existence.
The most plausible view, of course, is a matter of personal preference whether you view an individual sport like boxing as a vehicle for national pride and patriotism.
Many people in the UK who support Usyk will do so not because they hate Joshua or are racist, but because they are drawn to the Ukrainian charisma and skill, and because they see him as a a more authentic prize fighter than AJ, who has a house of money and a Matchroom media machine behind him.
Others will stick with Usyk for the simple reason that they feel sympathy for the plight of the Ukrainian people, and recognize the joy and pleasure, though fleeting, of a Usyk victory. will bring to a despised and oppressed country.
Amidst such patriotic and contextual games, dear reader, you’re probably wondering where to test and analyze what might actually be happening in the ring at the Jedda Superdome this evening. Saturday.
So here goes. (Finally, I heard some of you crying.)
Usyk is a boxer. His footwork, footwork, and head movement are top-notch and he’s hard to match with the kind of headshot or massive body that Joshua would need to land if he was forced to stop. again. Joshua is an underrated boxer, but a mechanical fighter. Where he wins by knockout lies with his new coach Robert Garcia, which has somehow managed to inject many layers of sophistication into AJ’s combat toolkit that a training camp certainly can’t. achieve. Usyk’s ability to slide and dodge big shots is superb and his penalty absorption is impressive, so it’s hard to beat Joshua with injury time.
It is far-fetched to imagine that Usyk would be covered up, or threatened. However, if he fights with extreme caution, or if the subtlety of his ring escapes the attention of stupid referees, then it is possible that he will make an unwarranted decision. have against someone who is – after all – a house boxer and a substantial cash cow.
On balance however, after leaning towards winning Joshua by what you might call a ‘bullshit decision’ earlier in the week, I’m now leaning towards Usyk retaining his title through a fight. The decisive victory deserved the points card but still pleased Joshua, the exhausted but intrepid Englishman who persevered to survive after emptying his tanks early on.
Cue patriotic celebrations in Ukraine, and an uneasy mixture – no doubt – of both excitement and despair in the UK.
