"14 Hours Without Power": Usyk on Age, Wilder, Joshua, and Life in Ukraine During War

On January 17, the three-division undisputed world boxing champion, Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk, turns 39. On the eve of this event, Ready To Fight spoke with the champion about his professional and personal journey, his plans, and life in the capital of Ukraine during the full-scale war.

– Oleksandr, your age is one of the topics actively discussed in the boxing world. Previously, before Tyson Fury, your physical characteristics were discussed in the same way. You said a cult phrase back then: “If size mattered, the elephant would be the king of the jungle.” What is your response to the skeptics regarding your age?

– I would invite the skeptics to train with me. Just for one training session. Look, age is just a number. If you treat your body with respect, care for it, train, eat properly, recover, and go to bed on time, then the numbers don’t matter.

– If we look at your life not from a boxer's perspective, but simply as a human: have you already realized all your dreams?

– I had dreams when I was a teenager. Now I simply have a path that I am walking. Have I achieved everything? No, of course not; I am still on the path of realizing my ideas and the ideas of my team. My journey continues as long as the Lord allows me to wake up in the morning and gives me breath.

– On New Year's, people often make promises to change something. Did you make any promise to yourself for the coming year?

– No, I don't wait for a specific date to start something. I started many years ago and I simply keep moving. When I want to do something new or learn something new, I start doing it immediately, without waiting for Monday, a new month, or a new year.

– You have repeatedly spoken about your interest in cinema. If you had the opportunity to play any role, what would it be?

– I would like to play a dramatic role.

– Shakespeare?

– That is still too difficult for me for now. Over that, I still need to work. Although, I didn't become a world champion immediately either. I am confident that I could play even Shakespearean roles in a couple of years if I have the time and opportunity for serious preparation. But even now, I think I could play a multifaceted character who, despite everything, moves forward and breaks through walls in his path.

– How do you see boxing in 10 years? What will change in it?

– Boxing itself as a sport won't change much because it’s impossible to invent something new: there is the straight punch, the hook, and the uppercase. But the world will change, people will change. I am sure more people will take up boxing because we are returning to times when a person's physical strength will matter greatly.

– Let's return to current events. You vacated the belt, chose not to fight Wardley, and selected Wilder instead. Critics say that from a sporting perspective, Wardley deserved this fight more. Why Wilder?

– First of all, it's the USA — I want to box in America. Secondly, Wilder has been at the top for the last 10 years. This is about sporting interest. In the "big three," there were Joshua, Fury, and Wilder. I beat Joshua twice, I beat Fury twice, and one unbeaten one remains — Wilder.

– If you were to rank the trio of Fury, Joshua, and Wilder from strongest to weakest, how would you do it?

– I don’t have a “strongest.” Each of them spent years reaching such a high level. But if judging by the difficulty of my preparation for the bout and the intensity of the fight itself, then Tyson Fury is in first place, and Anthony Joshua is in second. I currently place Wilder third because I haven’t boxed him yet. This is a purely subjective feeling.

– Tyson Fury is returning, as you have predicted many times. Would you be interested in a trilogy with him?

– Why not, but only if it’s a fight for the undisputed status again.

– Recently, footage of Wladimir Klitschko training appeared online. Is a rematch with Fury possible?

– I would watch that rematch with great pleasure. But I’d say there is a 70% chance that Wladimir is just training for himself.

– And what if tomorrow Wladimir calls you and, just as Joshua did previously, wants to work with your team in Gandia?

– If he calls, I will personally go to him, bring him to the camp, and do everything possible to help him step into the ring once more.

– And what if you had to choose a fight against a peak Wladimir or Vitali Klitschko?

– I would choose Wladimir. He is a more classical athlete; it would be a bit more comfortable for me with him. Vitali is very awkward; in boxing, such people are called "clunky." He can hit from positions that physics hasn't even heard of.

– And if there was an opportunity to meet one of the legends of the past (Tyson, Holyfield, Bowe, Lewis)?

– I would choose Lennox Lewis.

– Anthony Joshua is currently going through a difficult emotional period due to the accident in Nigeria and the death of his close friends. In 2022, you also had an emotional breakdown due to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. You even thought about leaving boxing, but you found the motivation to fight — not only for yourself but for the country. From the perspective of your own experience, what would you say to Anthony as a friend?

– I've already spoken with him. I heard a desire to continue in his voice — for the friends he lost and for the chance to live that the Lord gave him. Once I spoke with the mother of my fallen comrade, and she told me: "Oleksandr, he would be very proud that you are continuing your work; he will watch you from heaven." And he, I think, does that. And not just him, but all my loved ones who passed away defending our country. They are my guardian angels who help me in the ring.

– You are a top boxer, a world champion, but right now you are in Kyiv, where there are power problems due to Russian shelling. How many hours did you have no electricity today?

– There was no power for 14 hours, then they turned it on for three hours and turned it off again.

– What message would you like to give to Ukrainians and the world today?

– If you think life is a fluffy rabbit, you are mistaken. It’s a prickly hedgehog with poison. Tame it and turn it into a weapon. No one will help you except yourselves. Believe in God, create strong families, have children, and be real friends. Life can be tough, like an undercooked steak that you have to chew for a long time to taste. Rejoice in small things: a child's smile or a bird's song. And remember: if you do evil to someone, it will return to you twice as strong.