Why was Oleksandr Usyk detained at Krakow Airport?

OLEKSANDR USYK sent shockwaves throughout the boxing world on Tuesday night after he was DETAINED by police in Poland.

The incident took place at Krakow Airport and saw Usyk being led away in handcuffs while he was trying to board a flight.

Usyk is the undisputed heavyweight world champion and has previously beaten Britain’s two superstar heavyweights Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.

The Ukrainian is set to rematch Fury in December in Saudi Arabia. But his detainment could’ve put a spanner in the works.

The 37-year-old, however, was later released after the matter was deemed to be a misunderstanding.

Why was Oleksandr Usyk detained?

According to , Usyk was boarding a flight from Poland’s capital to Thessaloniki, Greece, where he is to begin camp for his December 21 rematch with Fury.

But Usyk was put in cuffs after an airline official determined the champion boxer’s his friend was not fit to travel.

Alex Krassyuk, Usyk’s manager, said: “Usyk had a “priority” queue for boarding, and his friend a general queue.

“While waiting for boarding, Oleksandr’s friend fell asleep on the seats in the waiting area.

“After the announcement of the start of boarding, Usyk woke up his friend and said that he would wait for him at the exit. After passing the passport and boarding pass check, Usyk was left to wait for his friend. It all started with this.

“Employees of the airline somehow strangely established the condition of the other Oleksandr [Usyk’s friend] as “deep alcoholic intoxication” and did not allow him to board the flight. Usyk began to find out the reason for the denial with Ryanair employees, but they refused to give an explanation, calling the police.”

Usyk refused to travel without his friend and put his hands out for police to cuff him.

On Wednesday, Mykhailo Krasiuk – who is part of Usyk’s PR team – wrote on social media: “Ok Google, that was all about our team member, who brought [Usyk] from Kyiv by car (and it was not [trainer Sergey Lapin], as reported by some media).

“He was very tired after 14hr driving and slept standing up, literally. Ryanair employees didn’t let him on the plane.

“Usyk, who was already on board, returned to the gate and tried to defend our friend, like always does.

“Meanwhile the police appeared, maybe the champ looked so dangerous that should have been handcuffed, [I don’t know].

“Anyway, everything was sorted out briefly. Thanks for your support.”

Usyk’s wife Katheryna was travelling with her husband and quickly assured everyone on social media that the matter was ‘nothing criminal’.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky also got involved and secured Usyk’s release.

“I was disappointed by this attitude towards our citizen and champion,” Zelensky wrote online alongside a picture of Usyk with a Ukrainian official.

“I instructed the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, and the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Ihor Klymenko, to immediately look into all the details of the incident at Krakow airport.

“Now, everything is fine, our champion has been released, and he is no longer being detained.”

Usyk wrote on social media: “A misunderstanding took place.

“It was quickly resolved. Thanks to all who got concerned. Thanks to Ukrainian diplomats for the efficient support.

“And respect to Polish Police for conducting their obligations with no regards to height, weight, reach and regalia.”