OLEKSANDR USYK was STRIPPED from his honors with Crimea, after he joined up with the Ukrainian army to resist the Russian invasion.
After beating Anthony Joshua, Usyk decided to stop boxing and become the unified heavyweight champion to join the war effort.
Second right: Oleksandr Usyk has had his honors taken away by the Crimean Parlament
Although he was born in Simferopol, Crimea, the Ukrainian national is now based with his family in Kyiv.
However, his actions did not go down well with Vladimir Konstantinov, Chairman of the Crimean Parlament.
According to RIA, he stated that "These [people] arranged and accepted the water and energy blockade in Crimea, and who question the fairness of our return Russia, and who have stained themselves with Russophobia."
"Such people do not deserve a good memory."
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Since 2014, Crimea is part of the Russian Federation.
Wladimir Klitschko and Vitali Klitschko were boxing legends. Former world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko also joined the Ukrainian war effort against the Russians.
Usyk is now back in training to train for Joshua's rematch.
After Usyk was allowed to leave his homeland, negotiations resumed and both sides reached a satisfactory agreement.
Eddie Hearn, chief of Matchroom Boxing, stated that the fight was over and it had been agreed upon during a talkSPORT appearance.
"It's 100 percent Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Uzyk the rematch.
"We are finalizing the location right now, his team is in London this week so that we can sit down with them.
"I believe that in two weeks we will finalize the date. It will be July.
"And hopefully AJ will be a three-time world heavyweight champion."
Joshua, 32, was beaten by the southpaw in their Tottenham tussle last Sept. and lost his grip over the WBA, WBO, and IBF heavyweight titles.
However, Usyk's plans for their rematch are being hampered by Russia's ongoing invasion of his homeland.
