The Ukrainian boxer set to tackle the UK’s Anthony Joshua this night has been described as having “zero fear” and being just like the “joker”.
Yet, with a battle raging in his residence nation Oleksandr Usyk, the reigning unified world champion, has made it clear he’s lethal critical and can be preventing for his nation when he competes to maintain his titles tonight.
So, who’s the person described by Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn as “a strange one”?
The rematch
This is Usyk’s second struggle in opposition to Anthony Joshua after he beat the Briton on 25 September 2021 on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, having gained the correct to problem him for the WBO heavyweight belt by securing his earlier victory.
Even although he entered the bout because the reigning champion and pre-fight favorite, Joshua was outboxed with Usyk profitable the judges resolution unanimously.
This time, the pair sq. off in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with the bout being proven on Sky Sports Box Office this night, with the construct up from 6pm.
Defending Ukraine
Less than six months in the past, Usyk was manning the barricades in his residence nation’s battle with Russia, having joined the territorial defence battalion.
He had been in London when Russia invaded and rushed again, flying to Poland and driving the remainder of the way in which, to hitch his associates and compatriots to guard his homeland.
He instructed CNN on the time he was prepared to kill to defend Ukraine and had no worry of dying.
He instructed the community: “My soul belongs to the Lord and my body and my honour belong to my country, to my family. So there is no fear, absolutely no fear.”
Return to boxing
By the tip of March, nonetheless, he had left his native nation with a purpose to put together for his rematch with Joshua.
A second struggle had already been agreed quickly after he gained the primary final 12 months, however Usyk had been reluctant after the battle broke out.
Yet, in a video message through which he spoke largely Russian on 29 March, he mentioned he believed he would serve Ukraine higher by collaborating within the upcoming boxing match.
“In this way, I can help my country more and better than I would by being in the Territorial Defence and running around Kyiv with a machine gun,” he mentioned.
Klitschko’s help
He later revealed he had been inspired in his resolution to coach for the struggle by the Klitschko brothers, former heavyweight world champions themselves.
Usyk revealed in an interview along with his sponsor Blockasset that a few of his associates have been lacking and he considered boxing as “child’s play”, in comparison with battle.
But he mentioned that after chatting with Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko, he had determined to return to the ring. At the time, mayor of Kyiv Vitali had been main the defence of his metropolis.
‘Scary reflexes’
He has been described as having “scary reflexes”. One of his tips is to flick 4 cash up from his elbow on the identical time – and catch all of them one after the other.
It is without doubt one of the causes the 35-year-old is the bookies’ favorite for the match tonight, regardless of weighing in additional than 10kg lighter than Joshua.
Proud dresser
There was widespread amusement after he turned as much as quite a few pre-fight occasions in a variety of outfits which some have likened to trying like a clown.
At his weigh in for the September struggle, he wore a crimson swimsuit, darkish inexperienced shirt, black and gold test tie and a mustard waistcoat, which many mentioned left him trying just like the Batman character The Joker.
But he later revealed that they have been a contemporary interpretation of the nationwide costume of the Cossacks, an ethnic group who’ve lived in what’s now Ukraine for hundreds of years.
Cossacks have been formidable fighters and infrequently made up the ranks of the armies of Russian and Polish empires.
At a information convention for the upcoming struggle, he wore a special outfit reminiscent of his Cossack ancestry, that includes a darkish brown sleeveless tabard, broad belt and a white shirt with an embroidered trim.
He is now typically nicknamed The Cossack.
The assist of Eeyore
Usyk revealed at one in every of his information conferences that one in every of his most necessary group members was the Winnie the Pooh character Eeyore.
He mentioned he purchased a stuffed Eeyore toy for his daughter Elizabeth throughout a household journey to Euro Disney in Paris and he or she renamed it Liolia, a woman’s title.
She then introduced Liolia to the boxer for good luck earlier than he headed off to coaching camp and the toy has been by his facet ever since.
He instructed reporters Liolia was his “talisman”, including: “It sleeps with me, is always close to me. I’m not sure about it being in my corner on Saturday night… she might be scared! But she will definitely be in my dressing room.”
He can sing (kind of)
At the tip of the pre-fight information convention, he launched into tune, with a rendition of the people tune “Oy U Luzi Chervona Kalyna”, which Rubryka.com says has turn out to be one of many symbols of Ukraine’s resistance in opposition to Russia’s navy aggression.
The oseledets
When he final fought Joshua, he sported the shaved head ubiquitous throughout the boxing and martial arts world.
But in his most up-to-date pre-fight occasions, he was comfortable to be seen carrying an extended single lock, which some have likened to a pony tail, however is in truth one other nod to his Ukrainian heritage.
The oseledets, or chub, coiffure is usually related to Ukrainian Cossacks, going again to the early Middle Ages when it was ceaselessly copied by warriors from different nations who wished to seize among the notoriety with which Ukrainian mercenaries have been held.
The lengthy central strip which was typically braided or tied in a topknot has undergone quite a few revivals over the centuries in affiliation with Ukrainian nationalism.
Multi weight
Until 2019, he boxed at cruiserweight, one or two weight ranges down from heavyweight (relying on the supervising organisation), despite the fact that he had beforehand gained the Olympic heavyweight gold medal, earlier than the beginning of his skilled profession, within the London Olympics.
He is simply the fourth male boxer in historical past to concurrently maintain the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO titles and is the primary Ukrainian to be an undisputed champion (at cruiserweight), one thing neither of the Klitschko brothers achieved, primarily as a result of they didn’t need to struggle one another.
Raised in Crimea
While his dad and mom are initially from northern Ukraine, Usyk was born in Crimea – now underneath Russian occupation – whereas it was nonetheless a part of the Soviet Union.
His father was from Sumy and fought with the Soviet military in Afghanistan earlier than changing into a safety guard and his mom had moved to Simferopol to check, the place they met, and Usyk grew up.
He was additionally a gifted footballer and educated on the academy native group SC Tavriya Simferopol till he was 15.
Source: information.sky.com”