Usyk dedicates boxing victory to military defending Ukraine
Oleksandr Usyk has dedicated his heavyweight title fight victory to Ukraine, his family and the soldiers defending Ukraine.
Talking to Sky Sports in the ring after the fight he said: "I devote this victory to my country, to my family, to my team, to all the militaries who are defending the country, thank you very much."
The Ukrainian boxer defeated British fighter Anthony Joshua in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, via a split decision, to retain his WBA, IBF, IBO and WBO heavyweight belts.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated the athlete on the win.
He tweeted: "Difficult, but so important and necessary VICTORY @usykaa!
"Defending the title of the world champion is a symbol of the fact that all Cossacks will not give up theirs, will fight for it and will definitely win!"
"He will return to territorial defence"
In March, it was reported that a number of Ukrainian athletes had taken up arms to defend their country amid the ongoing Russian invasion.
His promoter, Alexander Krassyuk, told BBC Sport that Usyk will return to support Ukraine's defence.
"He will return to territorial defence, there is no hesitation about it," Mr Krassyuk said.
Oleksandr Usyk was pictured armed in February after enlisting with the Kyiv Territorial Defence. He has denied ever using the weapon.
Krassyuk explained to BBC Sport that "he got involved with the community self-defence organisation and he started to move around the region he was living in with his partners and colleagues.
"Usyk's job was to cruise their territory looking for strange people, setting up block posts to see who is coming in and who is coming out
"To make sure no strange or dangerous people could cross the block post, and if anything happens call the specialist services to investigate."
Ukraine's Ministry of Defense also messaged their congratulations to their "mighty Cossack".
In a tweet, they said: "Congratulations to our mighty Cossack @usykaa!
"Thank you, Champ! You stood strong in the final rounds and you won, just as all Ukrainians will stand and win! Usyk believes in #UAarmy (Ukrainian Army), #UAarmy believes in Usyk!"
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