Oleksandr Usyk left visibly moved as he reads emotional letter from Ukrainian soldier on front line
Oleksandry Usyk was left ‘visibly moved’ after reading an emotional letter from a Ukrainian soldier on the front line. The words on the letter were so powerful that ‘a lump formed’ in Usyk’s throat and his ‘eyes welled’. Fury and Usyk will meet again on Saturday nightIan Walton/Matchroom Usyk will be looking to repeat history in his rematch with Tyson Fury on December 21 after he handed the Brit the first-ever defeat of his professional career in May. The heavyweight titans have now both finished their training camps and recently touched down in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the highly anticipated historic clash. The pair even exchanged playful insults on a surprise video call set up by Turki Alalshikh over the weekend. During the video call, Fury claims there ‘has’ to be a trilogy bout between the pair, while jokingly calling the Ukrainian an ‘ugly little man’. However, things were a lot more serious when Usyk was presented with a handwritten letter from a soldier fighting on the frontline in Ukraine. In an interview with the Daily Mail, Usyk was handed a parting Christmas present by journalist Charlotte Daly from a soldier who shares his first name. The letter details how the Ukrainian heavyweight boxer has been a ‘beacon of hope’ for men on the frontline. It also outlines how Oleksandr and his fellow comrades would gather around to watch Usyk’s fights. “Thank you, this means so much,” Usyk said in response to the heartfelt letter. “This gives me extra motivation. This is a real man, a real soldier that is supporting my country, that is helping me and the people of Ukraine. Usyk floored Fury in the ninth round in their first meetingGetty “I’m very thankful to Oleksandr and our Ukrainian soldiers who are supporting my country and fighting to protect it. “I do this for them.” Usyk dropped Fury in the ninth round en route to victory in the pair’s bid to untie all four heavyweight belts in May. He was crowned the winner via split-decision in what was one of boxing’s biggest-ever events. Eddie Hearn has worked with the who’s who of boxing greats, including Usyk himself, and he told talkSPORT it is ‘very difficult’ to bet against the Ukrainian repeating history on Saturday night. Former two-weight boxing champion Paulie Malignaggi agreed as he also predicted Usyk to beat Fury again. Matchroom Sport founder Eddie Hearn has predicted an Usyk victoryMark Robinson/Matchroom Read the Ukrainian soldier’s full letter to Usyk below, as reported by the Daily Mail. The letter “Dear Mr. Oleksandr. My name is also Oleksandr, my callsign is ‘Shket (Kid/Lad)’. I am a fighter of the tactical special forces unit GRIM of the 41st separate brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. “My brothers and I watch all of your fights whenever possible and wholeheartedly root you for. “We are proud that the glory of Ukrainian boxing is now resounding so loudly. It has always been important, and now every victory of Ukraine is priceless. “We know what hard work is and what every victory is worth, in the ring or the steppes of Donbas. “My brothers and I defended Kyiv, then fought at Bakhmut, and liberated Kherson. You inspire us, and we will be worthy of Ukrainian glory and all who work for this. “We are rooting for you. We wish you victory and success. This time we will root for you again. “I hope you will feel our support even from afar. All our efforts will lead to the main thing – to our Common victory! “We keep our fingers crossed for you, we pray, we wish you success! Together to victory!”
Oleksandry Usyk was left ‘visibly moved’ after reading an emotional letter from a Ukrainian soldier on the front line.
The words on the letter were so powerful that ‘a lump formed’ in Usyk’s throat and his ‘eyes welled’.
Usyk will be looking to repeat history in his rematch with Tyson Fury on December 21 after he handed the Brit the first-ever defeat of his professional career in May.
The heavyweight titans have now both finished their training camps and recently touched down in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the highly anticipated historic clash.
The pair even exchanged playful insults on a surprise video call set up by Turki Alalshikh over the weekend.
During the video call, Fury claims there ‘has’ to be a trilogy bout between the pair, while jokingly calling the Ukrainian an ‘ugly little man’.
However, things were a lot more serious when Usyk was presented with a handwritten letter from a soldier fighting on the frontline in Ukraine.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Usyk was handed a parting Christmas present by journalist Charlotte Daly from a soldier who shares his first name.
The letter details how the Ukrainian heavyweight boxer has been a ‘beacon of hope’ for men on the frontline.
It also outlines how Oleksandr and his fellow comrades would gather around to watch Usyk’s fights.
“Thank you, this means so much,” Usyk said in response to the heartfelt letter.
“This gives me extra motivation. This is a real man, a real soldier that is supporting my country, that is helping me and the people of Ukraine.
“I’m very thankful to Oleksandr and our Ukrainian soldiers who are supporting my country and fighting to protect it.
“I do this for them.”
Usyk dropped Fury in the ninth round en route to victory in the pair’s bid to untie all four heavyweight belts in May.
He was crowned the winner via split-decision in what was one of boxing’s biggest-ever events.
Eddie Hearn has worked with the who’s who of boxing greats, including Usyk himself, and he told talkSPORT it is ‘very difficult’ to bet against the Ukrainian repeating history on Saturday night.
Former two-weight boxing champion Paulie Malignaggi agreed as he also predicted Usyk to beat Fury again.
Read the Ukrainian soldier’s full letter to Usyk below, as reported by the Daily Mail.
The letter
“Dear Mr. Oleksandr. My name is also Oleksandr, my callsign is ‘Shket (Kid/Lad)’. I am a fighter of the tactical special forces unit GRIM of the 41st separate brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
“My brothers and I watch all of your fights whenever possible and wholeheartedly root you for.
“We are proud that the glory of Ukrainian boxing is now resounding so loudly. It has always been important, and now every victory of Ukraine is priceless.
“We know what hard work is and what every victory is worth, in the ring or the steppes of Donbas.
“My brothers and I defended Kyiv, then fought at Bakhmut, and liberated Kherson. You inspire us, and we will be worthy of Ukrainian glory and all who work for this.
“We are rooting for you. We wish you victory and success. This time we will root for you again.
“I hope you will feel our support even from afar. All our efforts will lead to the main thing – to our Common victory!
“We keep our fingers crossed for you, we pray, we wish you success! Together to victory!”
