Oleksandr Usyk was ready for the biggest fight in his life this year... but it wasn’t in the ring.
The Ukrainian fighter put his career on hold to fight closer to home, despite a scheduled Anthony Joshua rematch. It will take place in Saudi Arabia on August 20th.
Oleksandr Usyk, a man who joined the war effort in Ukraine, is shown holding a machine gun
The fighter was born in Simferopol, Crimea. He is currently based in Kyiv together with his family.
In February, Usyk donned his army fatigues to join the Ukrainian Territorial Defence Forces at Kyiv.
He was trying to defend his country, and seek revenge for the Russians annexed Simferopol in 2014.
The ring is a proud display of his Ukrainian pride.
His heart on his hands
Joshua was outclassed by Usyk at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last season. Joshua wrote on his gloves, 'Simferopol’ and 'Ukraine’.
He gleefully carried the yellow and blue flag around his shoulders as he celebrated his famous win on points.
In an Instagram video, Usyk stated that the belts were going home shortly after the fight.
Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian President, took to Facebook to post: "Ukraine has reclaimed all that belongs to it!"
Usyk, a hero, returned to Kyiv and announced his intention to take the belts home from Crimea to show his coach.
This drew criticism, with some Ukrainians questioning his belief that Russians and Ukrainians "are one people".
Usyk fought for his country just months after he outclassed Anthony Joshua.
He also traveled to eastern Ukraine's frontlines to show soldiers how to box.
It was, perhaps up until a few months back, a mystery as to his loyalties.
Are you ready for battle?
Usyk, who was holding a machine gun, posed with his fellow soldiers, including Andrii NEBYTOV, the head Kyiv Police, and admitted that he had joined army.
The father-of-3 married man took to social media to protest Putin.
"Good morning, everybody. My name is Oleksandr Usyk. I would like to meet the Russian people.
"If we are brothers, Orthodox ones," don't send your children to the country.
"Also, I'm addressing it to the President Vladimir Putin. This war can be stopped.
After his win, Usyk proudly held the Ukraine flag in the rings
Usyk celebrates claiming Olympic gold for Ukraine at 2012 Olympics
"Please sit down and let us negotiate it without any claims.
"Our children, wives, and grannies are hiding under the floors. We are here in our country and we can't do it any other.
"We are defending. Stop this war. There is no war.
In the fight, he was joined by Vasiliy Lomachenko and the Klitschko brothers, boxing greats.
According to some reports, a furious Putin placed a bounty on their heads.
This meant that Joshua's planned rematch was postponed. But AJ supported Usyk and championed boxers who stood up for their country.
Joshua stated, "I have learned that politics and sport go hand-in–hand."
"They are powerful voices, and it is a good thing that they are speaking out.
They aren't calling for war; they're asking for peace. They wish them all the best.
However, this didn't go down well with Vladimir Konstantinov (Chairman of the Crimean Parlament), who took his honors from Crimea.
Usyk repeatedly called for an end of war
Usyk has slammed Vladimir Putin, Russian President
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."
His return home was not only costly for his Crimea roots, but it also had a negative impact on his appearance.
Yekaterina Usyk, Usyk's spouse, shared the following: "Oleksandr gained 10 kilograms in one week during wartime. He was so shocked, so horrified that he was almost in tears.
He saw me doing what I was doing. "He saw what I was doing.
He said, "But it's very hard for him. He still speaks on air. He is very clear about his position. He was always for Ukraine and he will continue to be so as long as he is healthy and strong.
Training back to basics
In March Usyk was allowed to leave Kyiv to begin training for his rematch against Joshua.
They will be facing off in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) with the WBA and WBO championship belts at stake.
He won't, however, use the conflict in Ukraine to motivate his blockbuster bout, despite all he knows and has seen.
"My close friends and family members have lost their lives in the war. "When so many people are suffering, I don't know how it can affect anything positively," Usyk stated in a press conference last week.
"I was there for a month, and I saw firsthand what was happening there... fighter jets and rockets flying. It's horrible."
He also spoke chillingly about death.
"Everyday I was there, i was praying and asking God: 'Please God, don’t let anyone try to kill me.
"Please don’t shoot anyone at me. Please don't force me to shoot anyone else.
Russian soldiers raided his Vorzel home while he was away. They had used it as their living quarters.
With the blessing of his country, Usyk returned to training camp in March
Anthony Joshua will be facing Usyk in their rematch on August 20.
The atrocities of war will outweigh whatever happens in the Middle East ring.
You can bet that he will return home ready to fight for his country after the match. He will defend his country.
