oxygenWe are warned that leksandr Usyk is exhausted and angry. He was in no mood to talk as he was moved from room to room throughout Monday afternoon and forced to endure the tedium of countless TV and YouTube interviews as he was asked the same questions about his world heavyweight unification time and time again. old question.
We agreed to let the IBF, WBA and WBO champion rest in peace as his only moment of escape from monotony came when Stanislav Stepchuk, one of the younger members of his entourage, was beaten by John Fernando John Fury gets headbutted to the face. It was a bloody moment that seemed so tawdry compared to the enormity of Usyk’s challenge against Fury – especially against the backdrop of the reality of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a war that will forever be on the champion’s mind.
Most of our small group of boxing writers have known Usyk for years. We like him and respect him, so it felt reasonable to withdraw from our scheduled roundtable discussion. There seemed little point in leaving him on the conveyor belt any longer.
But then, in a blur of color and noise, Usyk and a dozen Ukrainian men strode toward us. He looked cheerful and friendly, smiling and shaking hands before signaling his comrades to be quiet. Then Usyk scolded a team member who was about to take my seat, and then he sat next to me. The conversation went well and he seemed amused and energized by the previous argument.
“It doesn’t matter to me, it’s just bad behavior from Tyson’s team,” Usyk said in English. “We are professional athletes, not street fighters, and this is a big thing for us, the British and Ukrainian people. If they want to shake my team, it is impossible because not only do I have professional coaches and trainers , I also have professional soldiers.
Usyk grinned like a proud father looking at his child. “My team is very good at fighting – not boxing, but street fighting. But I said, ‘Hey guys, come back. “We have to behave appropriately. Of course it’s disappointing for something like this to happen at an event like this because it’s about discipline. I’m not disappointed with my team, they’re disappointed because I pulled them back and blocked their fight.
“They were looking at me, waiting for the signal to go out. They were waiting for the thumbs up, but I gave them the thumbs up. ‘Come back, please come back,’ I said. They are not happy. The situation doesn’t matter to me, it’s just more motivation for my team.
I say to Usyk, it’s hard to ignore the irony that Fury Sr. ended up bleeding from the head while the stoic Stepchuk barely flinched. “My friend didn’t bleed because he was a strong man,” Usyk replied with a smile. “He’s a street bum. Do you watch video? He’s like a pit bull, rude!
Did Stepchuk serve in the Ukrainian army? “He’s just a friend of mine, it’s a secret who the soldiers on my team are.”
He nodded when it was pointed out that Fury had chosen one of the smallest members of his team. “It’s bad, it’s a stupid situation. I don’t want to say John is bad because I don’t know him or his thinking. But he hit my friend and that’s just another reason why I won [on Saturday night]”.
When Usyk stressed his confidence in the outcome of his fight with Fury, he sounded calmly convinced: “I will win, and I will bring the belt home. I have four belts for four kids.” , two for my son, two for my daughter, one for each.
In the gymnasium at training camp, he hung a banner touting the unstoppable power of Newton’s cradle. He leaned forward and said, “Newton’s cradle has started. You can’t stop it.
Usyk made another analogy by mimicking the movement and power of the first and last balls, cascading back and forth in a stationary chain. “Pain is just weakness in your body. So Newton’s cradle can’t be stopped, just like the little Ukrainian guy can’t be stopped.
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He waved his hands in the air, switching from physics to show business, shouting in the voice of an American boxing ring announcer: “Alexander, ‘Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World,’ Cat Usyk!”
The boxer has always been an unconventional person and once hoped to become an actor, playing the role of both a clown and a prankster. But Usyk sounded deadly serious when he suggested that becoming the undisputed world champion would never match the Olympic title he won at London 2012: “My gold medal will always be better than the undisputed gold medal. Everyone who plays sports – boxing, judo, karate – dreams of competing in the Olympics. I know men who have won three World Championship medals, but no Olympic gold medals. I competed in two Olympics. It took four years of work to get just one medal from my opponent in the 2012 final. [Clemente] Russo has competed in four Olympics but still hasn’t won a gold medal 16 years later.
Usyk believes that professional boxing is “just a business for a lot of people. It’s money, belts, fame. But for me, first and foremost, it’s a sport.
In times of war, it also meant something far more profound. Russia’s attacks on Ukraine have intensified in recent weeks, and when I asked Usyk if the severity of the war would push him to reach greater heights in the most important fight of his career, he paused. “I’m really grateful for the support from Ukrainian fans and soldiers, it’s a big motivation.”
Usyk fell silent briefly, seemingly acknowledging the significance and symbolism he also carries in Ukraine. “Maybe I’ll motivate my employees,” he said quietly. “perhaps.”
He ignored the signals from various media figures that his time with us was over, but, out of respect for him and everything he would soon face in the ring, simply thanked him for his brief time with us. Conversation is enough. “Of course,” Usyk said, standing up to shake everyone’s hand again, “always.”
In that moment, away from the noise and madness, it’s easy to remember that the best boxers have brought light and meaning to boxing.
