Ukrainian boxer Usyk: If I have to kill, I’ll do it

Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk has vowed to fight Russia to the death. Thechampion says he is not afraid to use a gun if he has no choice.

Ukrainian boxing legends fight against the odds

As we recently reported, boxing legends Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko enlisted in the Ukrainian army after Russian troops invaded Ukrainian territory last week on orders from their president, Vladimir Putin.

But America’s most-watched television station, CNN, has reported that other world boxing stars are fighting in the war with Russia alongside the Klitschko brothers. One of the most prominent figures in contemporary boxing is undoubtedly the world heavyweight champion and London Olympic gold medallist Oleksandr Usyk.

The thirty-five-year-old father of three joined his friend, two-time Olympic champion Vasiliy Lomachenko, and the legendary Klitschko brothers in the fight for his native country. So the stars of the boxing ring have swapped gloves for guns and are not shy about using them.

Oleksandr Usyk in a chilling statement

Usyk sent a chilling message this week, saying he was prepared to die for his country and kill for his people if he had no choice.

“If they want to take my life or the lives of my loved ones, I will have to do it,” Usyk said in an interview with CNN. “But I don’t want to do that, I don’t want to shoot, I don’t want to kill anyone, but I probably won’t have a choice,” he added of his ambivalence about the war.

“It may sound sentimental, but my soul belongs to the Lord and my body and my honor belongs to my country, to my family,” he expressed his determination to defend his country to the death. “How could this happen in the 21st century,” he lamented the horrific situation on the border between Ukraine and Russia.

Earlier this week, a photograph of him preparing for war with a machine gun slung around his shoulder appeared online.

Usyk, who was due to defend his championship belt in a rematch with Anthony Joshua at the end of the year, has won the backing of his British rival. “My country and my honour are more important to me than my championship belt,” he confirmed media speculation that the expected fight might not happen after all.

Usyk posted a plea on Instagram to the Russian people and President Putin

The Ukrainian, who is a devout Orthodox Christian, has asked the Russian people and President Putin for help. “If we consider ourselves brothers, Orthodox, don’t send your people to our country, don’t fight us,” the champion spoke to the Russian people in a heartfelt post on his Instagram.

“Please sit down and negotiate with us without demands,” he begged Vladimir Putin for leniency. “Stop this war, stop it,” he added towards the Russian president.

Let’s hope the conflict between the two countries can be stopped as soon as possible. Let the courage of the above mentioned boxing legends and the entire Ukrainian people be an example for all people around the world.

Source: CNN, Instagram, The Sun