Oleksandr Usyk will be fighting for more than a collection of championship belts when steps in the ring with Tyson Fury later this year. Since 2022, Usyk’s home country, Ukraine, has been fighting of the invasion of Russian forces. While he initially joined Kyiv’s territorial defence force, he was ultimately encouraged to resume his professional career and represent Ukraine on the world’s stage. Two years later, he’s beaten the likes of Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Daniel Duboi en route to becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era.
Usyk’s accomplishments in the ring have not erased the pain he feels for many of his countrymen and women as they fight for survival and freedom. He previously helped UNITED24, a government-run charitable platform, raise nearly $300,000 and rebuild a local home. The home housed a gym operated by renowned boxing coach Oleksii Dzhunkivskyi, who was reportedly killed by Russian forces. As Dzhunkivskyi’s wife, Anastasia, carries out her husband’s work, Usyk has stepped in to buy “necessary sports equipment” for children training in the area.
“Although Oleksii is no longer with us, boxing will continue to exist in the gym he founded,” Usyk said.
“The children will keep training, and perhaps one of them will become a new world champion.”
Usyk is not done offering help and providing hope for the people of Ukraine. As he prepares for second fight with Tyson Fury later this year, he says he will continue to highlight the “grief and massive destruction that Russia is causing.”
“The world needs to see the grief and massive destruction that Russia is causing to our country,” he said.
“But the world also needs to see the unity and solidarity of the Ukrainian people, which is inspiring.”
Oleksandr Usyk returned to war-torn Ukraine this week. He visited the children's hospital hit by a missile on July 8th and an apartment building he helped pay to rebuild as it contained a boxing gym ran by his acquaintance Oleksii Dzhunkivskyi, who was killed by Russian… pic.twitter.com/wOIWfeThUM
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) July 19, 2024
