logo
Oleksandr Usyk is one of boxing's greats – but he'll never be able to enjoy success due to horrors of Ukraine war

Oleksandr Usyk is one of boxing's greats – but he'll never be able to enjoy success due to horrors of Ukraine war

The Irish Sun5 days ago
OLEKSANDR USYK'S fame and fortune is a 'curse' while his friends and countrymen are lying dead in trenches and bomb sites.
5
Derek Chisora has claimed Oleksandr Usyk can't enjoy his success and money
Credit: The Sun
5
Usyk became undisputed heavyweight champion again last weekend
Credit: PA
5
Usyk beat Daniel Dubois with a fifth round knockout
Credit: EPA
The heavyweight heroes meet at a Ukrainian sauna when the Brit-basher visits London, and they speak regularly on the phone, when the 41-year-Londoner can hear missiles and rockets raging over his roof.
Del Boy was ringside to watch Usyk's latest four-belt crowning over
But he told our Split Decision YouTube show that all the belts and cash in the world are wasted on the devout 38-year-old, while Vladimir Putin lays siege to his home and slaughters his nation.
Chisora explained: 'He has made so much money but he can't enjoy it because his country is at war.
READ MORE IN BOXING
'He can't go around driving a Lamborghini while his friends are having their houses destroyed and they are dying. He is cursed.
'He can't go on holiday in St Tropez and sunbathe and drink tequila because his friends are in the trenches.
'He can't enjoy his money. He can't because he is all Ukraine has right now."
Since the 2022 invasion, Usyk has scythed through British boxing's best big men.
Most read in Boxing
5
Usyk is a proud Ukrainian
Credit: Getty
CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
After Chisora was outpointed, the gap-toothed southpaw did almost faultless doubles over Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and now 27-year-old Dubois.
And the Englishman reckons the sickening onslaught his people are facing is inspiring him in a way that transcends sport.
Oleksandr Usyk has press conference in stitches as he NAMES the left hook that floored Daniel Dubois at Wembley
He said: 'The population is going down because so many people, young men, are dying.
'It's so difficult for him but it's also why he is so dedicated, he is doing it for his whole nation.
'If it's your destiny then it's your destiny. If God says it's your path then nothing will take you away from it.'
Arguments about cross-generation fantasy fights will rage on in pubs and online forums.
But Chisora tries to keep it short and sweet.
He added: 'Usyk is 100 per cent a top-10 heavyweight and he is in my top-five.
'European amateur champion, Olympic gold medalist, undisputed cruiserweight world champion and two-time undisputed heavyweight champion.
'What more else can he do? He has whooped us all. He has taken the p***!'
5
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Hamilton agrees with Verstappen that Belgian GP should not have been delayed
Hamilton agrees with Verstappen that Belgian GP should not have been delayed

Irish Examiner

time22 minutes ago

  • Irish Examiner

Hamilton agrees with Verstappen that Belgian GP should not have been delayed

Lewis Hamilton said he agreed with Max Verstappen that the start of the Belgian Grand Prix should not have been suspended. Verstappen branded race director Rui Marques' move to bring out the red flag after a single formation lap in the rain at Spa-Francorchamps as 'silly' and 'way too cautious'. Following a delay of one hour and 20 minutes – which the FIA said was due to 'poor visibility' – the race eventually got under way, albeit in a rolling start after four laps behind the safety car. Hamilton was able to switch from intermediates to dry tyres after just seven racing laps. The Belgian Grand Prix started after four laps behind the safety car and a delay of one hour and 20 minutes (Bradley Collyer/PA) And when it was put to Hamilton, who made up 11 places to finish seventh, that Verstappen claimed the race should have started immediately, he replied: 'I would agree. My car was set up for that, and they waited for it to dry. Especially at the end. It was a dry line with hardly any spray.' There have been 49 driver/rider fatalities at Spa-Francorchamps in the last 100 years – most recently Dutch 18-year-old Dilano Van 't Hoff in 2023, and Frenchman Anthonie Hubert in a Formula Two race four years previously. The last Formula One race at Silverstone also took place in wet conditions, and Hamilton, 40, continued: 'It was just a reaction to Silverstone. 'We sat down and spoke about it after Silverstone. Lots of drivers in the last race said we shouldn't have restarted, because of a lack of visibility. And as soon as someone up ahead said, 'visibility is pretty bad' which, it wasn't great but it wasn't as bad as the last race, they just decided to wait. 'They still did a good job. Of course we did miss some of the extreme wet weather racing, which would have been nice. But for some reason the spray here is like a fog.' 🔴 RED FLAG 🔴 It's very wet out there and visibility is poor. The drivers will head back to the pit lane to wait for conditions to improve #F1 #BelgianGP — Formula 1 (@F1) July 27, 2025 In 2021, the rain-hit race was abandoned after just two laps behind the safety car. Defending the decision to delay the start of Sunday's event, Hamilton's Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc said: 'On a track like this you cannot forget about the history and what has happened in the past so I would rather be safe than go early.' Oscar Piastri, who won in Belgium to extend his championship lead over Lando Norris to 16 points, continued: 'We have given the FIA feedback that we would much rather be on the safe side. 'If you were being picky you might say we could have done one fewer lap behind the safety car but is the risk worth it? 'The first time we tried to start the race, with only Lando ahead, I couldn't see a thing, so you can imagine what it is like for the guys at the back.'

First look at new Strictly pros Alexis Warr and Julian Caillon ahead of 2025 series after Gio and Graziano scandals
First look at new Strictly pros Alexis Warr and Julian Caillon ahead of 2025 series after Gio and Graziano scandals

The Irish Sun

time22 minutes ago

  • The Irish Sun

First look at new Strictly pros Alexis Warr and Julian Caillon ahead of 2025 series after Gio and Graziano scandals

STRICTLY Come Dancing has signed two new dancers for the 2025 series, bringing in fresh talent after the Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima scandals. Alexis Warr and Julian Caillon will join the BBC show later this year. 1 Strictly Come Dancing has signed two new dancers for the 2025 series Credit: PA Both are familiar faces on the global Dancing With The Stars circuit and bring a wealth of performance experience to the UK version.

Oleksandr Usyk and Lennox Lewis agree in their prediction for next heavyweight world champion
Oleksandr Usyk and Lennox Lewis agree in their prediction for next heavyweight world champion

The Irish Sun

timean hour ago

  • The Irish Sun

Oleksandr Usyk and Lennox Lewis agree in their prediction for next heavyweight world champion

LENNOX LEWIS and Oleksandr Usyk are in agreement over who will be the heavyweight division's next world champion. Advertisement 3 Lennox Lewis with undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk Credit: instagram But the masterful Ukrainian - who also beat Fury in the December rematch - only has one bout left in his career The question remains who will surpass Usyk when the two-weight and three-time undisputed champ retires. But the man himself told Itauma - still only 20 - Advertisement READ MORE IN boxing He drew comparisons to a young Mike Tyson And boxing greatness of the past and present are in agreement as Lewis echoed Usyk's assessment. He said: 'Itauma is the next coming. Advertisement Most read in Boxing 3 Moses Itauma is tipped as the next heavyweight world champion Credit: PA CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS 'We've got a lot of heavyweights and great fighters coming out of Britain right now. Moses is definitely one of them.' Usyk, 38, has claimed he has one fight left before hanging up his gloves - and the WBO have ordered him to face Joseph Parker, 33, next. Advertisement He QUIT! Chisora | Split Decision | Usyk vs Dubois 2 fight review | Sun Sport But Fury has also called for a trilogy bout at Wembley following his two losses in Riyadh. And promoter Frank Warren said: "I would like to see the Joe Parker fight. Joe deserves it. "He's on a run himself, same as Daniel was on, and that's the fight that's been ordered. "So one way or another it will happen, or Joe will fight for the vacant title. Advertisement "Tyson has made it very clear to me; he'd love that [Usyk] fight, he would love to do that fight and it'd be a big fight." 3 Joseph Parker and Tyson Fury both want to fight Usyk next Credit: GETTY

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store