Alexander spoke about how his family experiences regular Russian shelling
Alexander Usik. Photo – Getty Images
The current WBO/WBC/WBA/IBO heavyweight title holder Oleksandr Usyk (23-0, 14 KOs) expressed doubt that he will have time to hold a title fight in Ukraine before the end of his career.
“Defending the world title in Ukraine? Now I think it's impossible.”
“Russia is at war with Ukraine, lots of missiles. I'm talking to my daughter, who's 14. “Hi, how are you?” “Oh, Dad, that was a terrible night.” My family can live in a bomb shelter, I have that option. “Hey, Dad, I'm going to the bomb shelter today, oh my God, I'm scared.” I said, “Listen, don't worry, please, I'll be home tomorrow.”
“I think this is a big problem, a very big one,” Alexander concluded.
Read also: Usyk: I have two fights left in my incredible journey
Last year, Usyk was twice stronger than the previously undefeated Briton Tyson Fury. Recently, the Ukrainian once again expressed his desire to fight the current IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs). His coach Sergey Lapin said that Alexander plans to hold his next fight between July and September.
Usyk regularly holds meetings with Ukrainian soldiers and helps the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Thus, in December last year, the boxer raffled off his gloves with the signature of Azov commander Denis “Radidis” Prokopenko. In this way, Alexander's charity fund raised funds for equipment for mobile hospitals.
In February 2025, Usyk met with the head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Vasyl Malyuk and officers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The boxer also visited Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines several times. Oleksandr talked to wounded soldiers in hospitals and organized trips for soldiers to his championship fights.
In the early morning hours of February 24, 2022, Russia launched a missile attack and aerial bombardment on most Ukrainian cities, and then launched a full-scale military invasion. The war against Russia is now in its 1,123rd day.