Connect with us

Boxing

Oleksandr Usyk discovers the truth about his role during the war

Published

on

Undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk spoke in detail about his time defending his homeland. During this period, he was photographed holding a rifle and standing shoulder to shoulder with other Ukrainian soldiers.

The haunting images sparked years of speculation about whether Usyk ever had to utilize his weapon. Now, over three years later, WBN found an interview in which the heavyweight king clarified the matter.

The journey home

Seeing his family for the first time in months during the surprising first period of the war, Usyk detailed his journey back to his homeland.

“I had to cancel my direct flight to Kiev,” Usyk said Profiboxing.cz after his return a few years ago. “I came back through Poland. It took me one day to get to Kiev. Then another two days to see my family and I calmed down a bit.”

The return of the unified champion was full of suspense. After being reunited with his loved ones, Usyk joined local volunteers working to protect key areas as fighting intensifies nearby.

“I may have taken a gun, but I would never utilize it.”

In the midst of these messy days, photos of Usyk armed with a rifle began circulating around the world, sparking praise, rumors and questions.

Usyk made his position clear.

“I may have picked up a gun, but that doesn’t mean I would utilize it,” he said firmly. “I never shot anyone.”

He credited his faith with carrying him through this ordeal.

“I was raised in the Orthodox faith, which teaches not to judge others. But for me, anyone who supports war is a schizophrenic, a unwell person.”

Family in danger

Usyk also described the trauma his family and neighbors experienced during the first attacks.

“I know they shot at our house, broke down the gate and dragged some neighbors out,” he said. “But I don’t know what it’s like there now. We can’t contact anyone. It’s scary how your guys run away and hide in the basement at every rustle.”

Profiboxing.cz

A champion’s perspective

When asked what he would say to those behind the violence, Usyk replied calmly and without emotion.

“What would I tell him? Nothing. I’m not interested in this man. I have nothing to say to him.”

For Usyk, boxing became a way to process this experience – a focus that kept him grounded.

“I never thought for a second that I would stay there. This fight will be special for me in that respect.”

About the author

Phil Jay is experienced boxing journalist with over 15 years of experience covering the global combat scene. How Since 2010, editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN).Jay has interviewed dozens of world champions and the most significant boxing evenings in the ring were reported.

[View all articles by Phil Jay] and learn more about his work in combat sports journalism.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Boxing

Johnny Fisher vs Michael Pirotton Results: Latest Fight Outcome and Highlights

Published

on

Johnny Fisher vs Michael Pirotton Results: Latest Fight Outcome and Highlights

World Boxing News provides results and updates as Johnny Fisher faces Michael Pirotton on Zuffa Boxing 11 at the Copper Box Arena in London.

Fisher returns to heavyweight action over ten rounds against Pirotton as part of Zuffa Boxing’s latest event in the United Kingdom.

Craig Richards faces Radivoje Kalajdzic at light heavyweight, while Lee Cutler takes on Louis Greene and Cesar Mateo Tapia faces Leo Ruiz at middleweight.

WBN provides results and updates from every bout as they happen.


Results

All times are local BST.

23:41

Johnny Fisher defeated Michael Pirotton by majority decision after ten competitive heavyweight rounds at the Copper Box Arena. WBN scored the fight 98-92 for Fisherwhile the official judges returned scores of 98-92 and 96-95 for Fisher, with the third scoring it 95-95.

22:42

Radivoje Kalajdzic improved to 31-3 with a unanimous decision over Craig Richards, who dropped to 20-5-1 after a good ten-round scrap. Both men had their moments and hurt each other at times before “Hot Rod” got the verdict on the scorecards, which included knocking Richards down for the first time in his career.

21:43

Lee Cutler carded a unanimous decision win over Louis Greene in their ten-round middleweight clash. Judges scorecard 98-92 and 97-93 twice in favor on Cutler, who improves to 17-2.

20:52

Ahead of the three main bouts, Zuffa’s only female fighter, Kayla Allendefeated Edina Kiss via TKO in their super lightweight bout.

20:32

Leo Ruiz overcame Cesar Tapia over 10 rounds at middleweight, scoring a unanimous decision to move to 18-1 as Ruiz Tapia suffered a first loss.

19:29

Alex MacMillan moved to 5-0 with a second-round stoppage of Guillaume Azagier, who went down twice in the opening round and again before the finish at 0:32 of the second.

18:40

Rogelio Romero improved to 7-0 with a third-round stoppage of previously unbeaten Aurel Ignat, ending the cruiserweight contest at 2:12.

18:24

Alexis De la Cerda improved to 10-0 with a unanimous decision over Cain Lewis, taking the eight-round contest 80-72, 79-74 and 79-73.

17:42

Fred Pullen marked his professional debut with a four-round points victory over Leonardo Faretina, who was dropped in the second round.


Remaining Bouts

Johnny Fisher vs. Michael Pirotton — 10 rounds, heavyweight

Craig Richards vs. Radivoje Kalajdzic — 10 rounds, light heavyweight


TV Coverage

The event is available live on Sky in the United Kingdom and Paramount+.

Follow WBN’s live boxing coverage throughout the event.


About the Author

Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.

Read Phil Jay’s full bio and latest stories.

Continue Reading

Boxing

Davies vs Collins & Heaney vs Warburton II Results: Full Fight Recap

Published

on

"Davies vs Collins & Heaney vs Warburton II Results: Full Fight Recap"

World Boxing News provides results and updates as Liam Davies faces Nathaniel Collins in the main event at bp pulse LIVE in Birmingham.

Davies and Collins collide over 12 rounds for the EBU European featherweight title at the top of the Queensberry Promotions card.

Luke McCormack faces Kay Prospere for the vacant British super lightweight title, while Bradley Goldsmith takes on Amir Abubaker for the IBF International middleweight title.

WBN provides results and updates from every bout as they happen.


Results

All times are local BST.

23:11

Gerome Warburton defeated Nathan Heaney for the second time running as the middleweight put an exclamation mark on his first victory.

Heaney walks away from the sport having been an entertainer through a long carer, without reaching the heights of a world title.

22:04

Liam Davies improved to 19-1 after Nathaniel Collins retired at the end of the seventh round due to a cut over his right eye. Collins had also been dropped in the opening round as Davies successfully defended the European featherweight title.

21:22

Bradley Goldsmith improved to 17-1 with a seventh-round stoppage of Amir Abubaker to retain his IBF International middleweight title. Abubaker went down in the fourth and three times in the seventh before the finish at 2:42.

20:10

Lewis Richardson improved to 3-0 with a shutout six-round points victory over Ivan Trofimovich, earning a 60-54 decision.

19:56

Luke McCormack moved to 6-0 and claimed the vacant British super lightweight title with a tenth-round knockout of Kay Prospere, who was counted out after a right uppercut at 1:28.

18:55

Michael Hussain moved to 5-0 with a four-round points victory over Nabil Ahmed, earning a 39-38 decision.

18:11

Nelson Birchall moved to 12-0 with a third-round stoppage of Lewis Morris, who went down before the finish came at 1:12. Lasha Guruli also remained unbeaten at 5-0 after edging Hughie Wilson 77-75 over eight rounds.

17:22

Early action saw John Tom Varey and Reese Lynch claim four-round victories to move to 3-0 and 5-0 respectively.


TV Coverage

DAZN provides full worldwide coverage.

Follow WBN’s live boxing coverage throughout the event.


About the Author

Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.

Read Phil Jay’s full bio and latest stories.

Continue Reading

Boxing

Janibek Alimkhanuly Shifts Perspective on Hamzah Sheeraz: A New Dynamic in Boxing

Published

on

"Janibek Alimkhanuly Shifts Perspective on Hamzah Sheeraz: A New Dynamic in Boxing"

Janibek Alimkhanuly spent months trying to get Hamzah Sheeraz into the ring. Now that Sheeraz has vacated his WBO super middleweight title, Janibek is asking fans to stop saying the former champion ran from him. That is generous. It also leaves Janibek with less to say about a fight he wanted badly.

Janibek’s tone has changed since the purse bid. He was eager to fight, said money was not his priority, and publicly pushed Sheeraz to accept. Queensberry then bid $1,001,809 to stage the ordered defense, beating Top Rank’s $820,000 offer. Sheeraz’s 75 percent share would have been roughly $751,000. Days later, he gave up the belt.

That sequence deserves a closer look. Queensberry put a serious number on the fight, so the bid itself cannot be dismissed as proof that nobody valued it. But winning the right to promote a title defense means little to fans when the champion vacates before it happens.

Sheeraz has objected to Janibek receiving a mandatory shot after his failed drug test. He is entitled to explain that position. Fans are equally entitled to ask why the issue reached a purse bid before he surrendered the title. Janibek’s post supplies no answer.

Perhaps Janibek sees no benefit in branding Sheeraz a coward. Doing so would also make the opponent he chased sound less valuable. Calling Sheeraz a great fighter preserves the idea that this was an important contest, even after the belt and the fight slipped away.

The respect between them may be sincere. Janibek still gets no Sheeraz fight, and Sheeraz no longer has to defend his title against Janibek. A friendly photo does not change either result.

Share this article

About the author

Boxing 24/7 Wire

Boxing247.com is an independent boxing news publication covering the sport since 2001. It provides original reporting, fight analysis, schedules, results, and informed coverage of major fighters and events worldwide, backed by more than 25 years of professional boxing journalism.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

OUR NEWSLETTER

Subscribe Us To Receive Our Latest News Directly In Your Inbox!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Trending