And suddenly, the rock that stood up to Tyson Fury for twelve rounds to snatch victory and bring together all the world belts on Saturday in Riyadh cracked. Oleksander Usyk broke down in front of the media, extremely moved when recalling the memory of his father who died in 2012, a few moments after dedicating his victory to his family, his team but also his country at war.
“I miss my father,” asked the boxer before continuing, with a lump in his throat: “I told him, ‘Listen, you live there (he points to the sky, Editor’s note) and I here. Please don’t come don’t look for me, I love you.” In English, the Ukrainian took his time to continue his remarks “For me, it’s difficult when my father comes back to see me because I then remember my whole life…”, detailed the champion before going on. cracking up again and pausing and concluding the press conference: “I know he’s there, maybe here pointing to the press conference room.”
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Usyk will return to the ring, probably in October for the rematch between the two men. But before confiding in his father, the heavyweight confided that he wanted to take a break and rest while enjoying his loved ones: “I’m going to take a vacation, I’m going home, I’ll discuss it with my wife and my children and I’ll see what I want to do. I will be 36 in a few months. I’ve been boxing since I was little, so it’s like that.”