Oleksandr Usyk has revealed the Ukrainian military supported his decision to leave the war and fight Anthony Joshua.
Usyk will finally renew his rivalry with Joshua on August 20 in Saudi Arabia after months of uncertainty. The Ukrainian bravely elected to return home and take up arms after his homeland was invaded by Russian troops.
He was pictured alongside fellow Ukrainian military personnel with a weapon after joining the Kyiv Territorial Defence earlier this year. However he eventually opted to return to boxing training and accept his contracted rematch with Joshua despite coming into criticism.
Usyk has now confirmed he continues to receive information from the ground in Ukraine as the war continues to rumble on. "I am getting information not from the news but directly from my friends in the military who continue to fight and stay in Ukraine," Usyk told reporters at yesterday's press conference. "They supported me in my decision and almost convinced me to leave Ukraine and take the rematch.
"It is still hard being in training camp because I still have eight weeks to go to renew my condition which has to be brilliant for this fight. It will be very successful and all the Ukrainian people will be happy for that."
Usyk joined several other Ukrainian fighters in returning to home soil to help the war efforts i ncluding Vasyl Lomachenko and Klitschko brothers Vitali and Wladimir. After several weeks of helping the military, Usyk now has just eight weeks to continue his preparations to face Joshua.
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The war efforts took a drastic toll on Usyk, with his wife Kateryna even revealing that he lost 22lb within a week after Vladimir Putin elected to invade Ukraine. "Sasha lost 10 kilograms in a week of the war. He was so horrified, in such shock, he was so torn apart." she told PravdaTUT Lviv earlier this year. "I said 'Sasha, please, people are asking, you need to speak, somehow support.'
"It is very difficult for him. He doesn’t really like giving interviews in normal, peacetime anyway. Now it’s difficult for him but he still goes on the air to say something. His position is clear, he has always been for Ukraine. He has always glorified it and will glorify it for as long as he has enough health and strength."
The Ukrainian star won the biggest fight of his career last year defeating Joshua in sensational fashion to become unified champion. He is expected to earn up to £100million for his second bout with the Briton, after being keen on taking the clash over to the Middle East.
