Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk vows to fight Russia to the death and says ‘I have a gun. If I have to kill, I’ll do it’
BOXING ace Oleksandr Usyk has vowed to fight Russia to the death and claims he “has a gun” and isn’t afraid to kill “if he has to.”
The heavyweight world champion and 2012 London Olympic gold medal winner has taken up arms as part of the Kyiv Territorial Defence.
The 35-year-old father-of-three has joined best friend - and two-time Olympic champ - Vasiliy Lomachenko and legendary heavyweight brothers Wladimir and Kyiv mayor Vitali in swapping gloves for guns.
And the boxer sent a chilling message this week in which he said he was prepared to commit murder and even die if the Russians evaded on “the lives of my close ones.”
“If they will want to take my life, or the lives of my close ones, I will have to do it,” Usyk told CNN on Wednesday.
“But I don’t want that. I don’t want to shoot, I don’t want to kill anybody, but if they will be killing me, I will have no choice.
“Maybe it’ll sound sentimental, but 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. There’s just bafflement — how could this be in the 21st century?"
On Monday, a picture emerged of him prepped for battle with a machine gun swung round his shoulder as he received the backing of Brit rival Anthony Joshua – who he is due to face later this year.
Usyk said he was unsure when he would return to the ring, adding: "My country and my honour are more important to me than a championship belt.”
It came as the Ukrainian, who is devout Orthodox Christian, appealed directly to the Russian people for help.
In a heartfelt Instagram video posted last week he said: “Good morning to everybody. My name is Oleksandr Usyk. I’d like to speak to the people of Russia.
“If we consider ourselves as brothers, Orthodox ones, do not send your children to our country, do not fight with us.”
He also sent a direct message to President Putin calling for end to war and for peace.
“Please just sit down and negotiate it with us without claims,” he added.
“Our kids, wives, grannies are hiding in the basements. We are here in our own country, we cannot do it any other way.
"We are defending. Stop this war, stop it. No War.”