As Ukraine battles with Russia, Oleksandr Usyk targets glory for Ukraine against Daniel Dubois
Oleksandr Usyk, the current IBF, IBO, WBA and WBO heavyweight world champion, has stated that he wants to honor Ukraine when he fights Daniel Dubois of Great Britain on August 26 in Wroclaw.
After defeating American Trevor Bryan by knockout to earn the WBA "regular" heavyweight championship in June 2022, Dubois was mandated to face Usyk.
Since defeating Anthony Joshua to retain the WBA "super," IBF, WBO, and Ring magazine belts in Saudi Arabia last year, it will be Usyk's first championship defense.
Usyk wants glory for Ukraine
Usyk won the WBO world cruiserweight championship over Krzysztof Glowacki in 2015, and this will be his first fight in Poland since.
The venue for the fight, Wroclaw, Poland, was chosen in honor of the Ukrainian refugees who fled their homeland to its western neighbor as a result of Russia's invasion of the nation.
Usyk claims that his ability to continue his illustrious boxing career is due to the Ukrainian people's contributions to the war effort.
He said, "I want to thank the guys who are defending Ukraine now.
"Only for the reason we are doing this we have the opportunity to defend our titles, to have our fights outside of Ukraine and bring glory to our country and to the flag of our country.
"I'm really happy to be back in Poland. This country greeted me well, we've become the WBO cruiserweight champion here together.
"In the next seven years I have collected several belts. Now I'm back in Poland here to defend them.
"I want to thank the people of Poland for the support they are giving to Ukraine.
"I've been travelling around the world fighting in different backyards of my opponents, but this fight here in Poland will be the closest one to my home.
"I hope you are going to enjoy everything that is going to happen on August 26 in Wroclaw."
Dubois hasn't competed since knocking out Kevin Lerena at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in December on the undercard of Tyson Fury vs. Dereck Chisora.