Oleksandr Usyk

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy Steps In As Oleksandr Usyk Was Arrested in Airport

On Tuesday, heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk was detained at an airport in Poland. According to a report from…

On Tuesday, heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk was detained at an airport in Poland.

According to a report from ESPN, the Ukrainian superstar was handcuffed and escorted off a jet bridge at Krakow Airport in Poland while trying to board a flight to Valencia, Spain where he’s expected to begin preparing for his highly anticipated rematch with Tyson Fury on December 21 in Saudi Arabia.

According to a source, Usyk and his trainer, Sergey Lapin, were denied boarding after an airline official determined they were not fit to travel.

Fortunately, the incident was resolved quickly according to Usyk who took to social media shortly after his release.

“Dear friends, a misunderstanding took place,” Usyk wrote on X. “It was quickly resolved. Thanks to all who got concerned. Thanks to Ukrainian diplomats for the efficient support. And respect to Polish Police for conducting their obligations with no regards to height, weight, reach and regalia” (h/t BJPenn.com).

Ukrainian President aids in resolving Oleksandr Usyk Detainment

Helping in the resolution was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy who engaged Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry. Not long after, Usyk was allowed to travel, but Zelenskyy was still left “disappointed” by the treatment that Usyk and Lapin received during their travels.

“I spoke with Oleksandr Usyk on the phone after he was detained, I was disappointed by this attitude towards our citizen and champion,” Zelenskyy wrote. ‘I instructed the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, and the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Ihor Klymenko, to immediately look into all the details of the incident at Kraków airport.

“Now, everything is fine, our champion has been released, and he is no longer being detained. In the photo, he is with our Consul General in Kraków right after being released.”

Ranked as ESPN’s No. 1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world, Usyk is a perfect 22-0 in his career with noteworthy wins against Derek Chisora, Anthony Joshua, Daniel Dubois, and the aforementioned Tyson Fury. Usyk is expected to be in attendance this Saturday night when Joshua defends his IBF heavyweight world title against Dubois at Wembley Stadium.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy Steps In As Oleksandr Usyk Was Arrested in Airport

On Tuesday, heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk was detained at an airport in Poland. According to a report from…

On Tuesday, heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk was detained at an airport in Poland.

According to a source, Usyk and his trainer, Sergey Lapin, were denied boarding after an airline official determined they were not fit to travel.

Fortunately, the incident was resolved quickly according to Usyk who took to social media shortly after his release.

“Dear friends, a misunderstanding took place,” Usyk wrote on X. “It was quickly resolved. Thanks to all who got concerned. Thanks to Ukrainian diplomats for the efficient support. And respect to Polish Police for conducting their obligations with no regards to height, weight, reach and regalia” (h/t BJPenn.com).

Ukrainian President aids in resolving Oleksandr Usyk Detainment

“I spoke with Oleksandr Usyk on the phone after he was detained, I was disappointed by this attitude towards our citizen and champion,” Zelenskyy wrote. ‘I instructed the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, and the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Ihor Klymenko, to immediately look into all the details of the incident at Kraków airport.

“Now, everything is fine, our champion has been released, and he is no longer being detained. In the photo, he is with our Consul General in Kraków right after being released.”

Exclusive | Tony Bellew Weighs In On Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2, as a former opponent

Tony Bellew has been in the ring with Oleksandr Usyk who recently took the heavyweight boxing world title from…

Tony Bellew has been in the ring with Oleksandr Usyk who recently took the heavyweight boxing world title from Tyson Fury. We sit down with Bellew for an exclusive interview with LowKick MMA & AceOdds to discuss the upcoming heavyweight championship showdown.

Tony Bellew – Boxing Champion

Tony Bellew, a former English professional boxer, enjoyed a successful career in the mid-2000s, during which he claimed the WBC Cruiserweight World Championship and several other major titles. Bellew is well-known for his accomplishments in both the cruiserweight and light-heavyweight divisions, finishing his career with a record of 30 wins, 20 by knockout, and 3 losses

Following his retirement after a defeat by Oleksandr Usyk in November 2018, Bellew shifted to sports commentary and analysis. He has since worked as a boxing analyst for DAZN and made appearances on various television shows.

Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2

Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, of the UK, first faced off in a historic heavyweight title unification bout on May 18, 2024, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The fight was highly anticipated as it crowned the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 2000, and the first in the four-belt era.

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The initial encounter lived up to expectations, featuring momentum swings and intense action. Usyk dominated the early rounds with his speed and precision, while Fury showed his strength in the middle stages. The bout reached its climax in the ninth round when Usyk nearly knocked out Fury, securing a crucial 10-8 round that ultimately led to his victory.

After 12 rounds of fierce competition, Usyk emerged victorious via split decision (115-112, 113-114, 114-113). This win allowed Usyk to unify his WBO, WBA, and IBF titles with Fury’s WBC belt, making him the undisputed heavyweight champion.

The rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury is scheduled for December 21, 2024, once again in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This second bout was made possible by a rematch clause in the original contract, which Fury exercised immediately after his defeat.

Tyson Fury

Tyson Fury’s father and uncle were both fighters. He began boxing at age 10 and quickly excelled in the amateur ranks, winning various titles before turning professional in 2008. Fury’s professional career took off when he defeated Wladimir Klitschko in 2015 to become the unified heavyweight champion.

Despite Tyson Fury’s success, he faced significant personal challenges, including battles with mental health issues that led to a hiatus from boxing. However, he made a remarkable comeback, reclaiming his status as one of the top heavyweights by defeating Deontay Wilder in a trilogy of fights.

Usyk turned professional in 2013 and quickly made a name for himself in the cruiserweight division, where he unified all four major titles and became the undisputed champion. In 2018, he moved up to heavyweight and continued to impress by defeating top contenders. Known for his exceptional technical skills and footwork, Usyk is celebrated for his strategic fighting style and ability to adapt during matches. His background as an athlete from Ukraine has also shaped his identity as a fighter who represents his country on the global stage.

Tony Bellew Weighs In

The boxer Tony Bellew has traded in the ring with Oleksandr Usyk and shared his thoughts on the adjustments Tyson Fury will need to make. He explained:

“When you’re the weight and size of Tyson Fury, you’ve got a chance of beating anyone. He’s f***king 20 stone and he’s 6 foot 8, or 6 foot 9, whatever he claims. If I was that size I’d invade Russia. I wouldn’t be boxing. He’s huge. He’s got a chance against anyone.

“That’s the top and bottom of it, to be fair. He’s punching a lot harder in the second half of his career than he did in the first as well. I think he’s also the only person I’ve genuinely seen hurt Usyk to the head. He was definitely hurting in that fight. I think it was the fifth round where he hurts him. But then as per usual, Oleksandr Usyk comes back stronger. He always does. He always finds a way. I just think he’ll figure them out again on fight night.“

Everton

Tony Bellew is a passionate supporter of Everton Football Club. His connection to the club is deeply personal, as he has expressed how much Everton and Goodison Park mean to him throughout his public appearances and interviews. In our interview, he explained:

I’m not going to lie. I’d take 17th, and 16th now. That’s not good to say as an Everton fan, but I would. It’s all over the place. The Bournemouth game is a freak incident. I was on a plane and I watched 70 minutes of that game, and I just think it’s madness.

“It’s just insane how that’s happened. I can’t explain it. That could happen 20 times, 20 games, 2-0 up at that stage and that just should never happen, but it did, and it’s a freak incident. I don’t think it’ll happen again but it is what it is. We’ve had the top, the bottom line of it. We’ve had three games and three losses and something’s got to be done.

Francis Ngannou still hungry for boxing as he eyes Wilder and Usyk clashes: ‘Why not fight everyone?’

Despite his two-fight losing skid since his professional boxing move, and ahead of his PFL (Professional Fighters League) debut…

Despite his two-fight losing skid since his professional boxing move, and ahead of his PFL (Professional Fighters League) debut in two months time, former undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou has vowed to compete in his pursuit of a first win in the squared circle — eyeing former titleholder, Deontay Wilder as well as Oleksandr Usyk.

Ngannou, a former undisputed heavyweight champion under the banner of the UFC, is slated to headline a PFL event in October, making his SmartCage debut in a matchup opposite Brazilian heavyweight star, Renan Ferreira in a return to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

However, most recently fighting earlier this year, Cameroonian knockout artist, Ngannou dropped a devastating second round knockout loss to former two-time world heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua in the Middle East.

Late last year to boot, Batie superstar, Ngannou made his professional boxing debut in a matchup against the then-unbeaten WBC heavyweight gold holder, Tyson Fury — dropping the Morecambe native with a stunning knockdown before dropping a controversial split decision loss in the desert.

Francis Ngannou on fighting through grief: ‘This is for my son’

Francis Ngannou welcomes Deontay Wilder, Oleksandr Usyk boxing fights

However, ahead of his clash with Ferreira in October, Ngannou has welcomed the chance to made a third walk to the boxing ring — against everybody from the likes of Wilder to current world champion, Usyk.

Renan Ferreira walks back controversial comments made to Francis Ngannou

“Absolutely, I would love that fight,” Francis Ngannou told talkSPORT of a matchup with Deontay Wilder. “Pure boxing, don’t be delusional here. That’s where we both stand a chance, but if we go MMA only one man stands a chance. It’s a fight that I want, I always wanted that fight. At some point we had a discussion that didn’t go too far, but we wanted to make this fight happen.”

“And even more boxers — Usyk? Why not,” Francis Ngannou explained. “I have the (Tyson) Fury rematch then Deontay Wilder on the wish list. (Martin Bakole) not really. That is the fight I would choose as the last option because I see him more like a brother. I’d fight anyone else beside him, plus he’s dangerous.”

Francis Ngannou still hungry for boxing as he eyes Wilder and Usyk clashes: ‘Why not fight everyone?’

Despite his two-fight losing skid since his professional boxing move, and ahead of his PFL (Professional Fighters League) debut…

Francis Ngannou welcomes Deontay Wilder, Oleksandr Usyk boxing fights

Oleksandr Usyk calls for radical reform of ‘Rotten’ Olympic boxing system

Former undisputed heavyweight boxing champion, Oleksandr Usyk is the latest in the long line of combat sports stars to…

Former undisputed heavyweight boxing champion, Oleksandr Usyk is the latest in the long line of combat sports stars to voice their disgruntlement with this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris, France – particularly voicing his displeasure with the much-scrutinzed boxing competition, which he described as “rotten”.

Usyk, a native of Ukraine, became undisputed heavyweight world champion in professional boxing back in May, handing British heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury his first professional loss in a one-sided unanimous decision win in Riyadh to snatch the undisputed WBC heavyweight crown.

Oleksandr Usyk set to fight Tyson Fury in rematch title clash on December 21.

And expected to take on the Morecambe native at the end of the year in an immediate championship rematch, Oleksandr Usyk, who featured at the Olympic Games in 2012 back in London, won the gold medal at the men’s heavyweight limit.

Oleksandr Usyk labels current Olympic boxing regime “rotten”

However, amid criticizm over the competing of both Imane Khelif and Taiwan native Ling Yu-ting, heavyweight world champion, Usyk has called for a complete reform of the Games’ boxing system, labelling the current regime as “rotten”.

“For many years, there has been a desire to change the boxing system, which is rotten on an international level,” Oleksandr Usyk told SNTV during a recent interview. “So, we just need to work. No promises need to be made; we need to act. When you do this, people see the work done and come to you, asking to collaborate.”

A decorated amateur boxing star, Usyk retired from the amateur scene boasting a stunning 335-15 record, besting the trio of Clemente Russo, Tervel Pulev, and current WBC, IBF, and WBO light heavyweight champion, Artur Beterbiev en route to his gold medal victory in London at the heavyweight limit.

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Unbeaten during his professional career in boxing, with his one-sided decision win over Fury earlier this year in the Middle East, Usyk improved to 22-0 as a professional.