when Ukraine uses the coronation of Oleksandr Usyk to stir the patriotic spirit

The first boxer in 25 years to reunify all the heavyweight belts after his victory over Tyson Fury on Sunday, Oleksandr Usyk offered the leaders of his country the opportunity to launch a communication with the war in the background.

“A very important victory” for Ukraine at war: from President Zelensky to the soldiers on the front, including artists, Ukraine enthusiastically greeted its boxer Oleksandr Usyk, who became the undisputed heavyweight champion on Sunday May 19 by beating Tyson Fury. The 37-year-old boxer, who briefly served as a soldier in the Ukrainian army after Russia’s February 2022 invasion, spoke of a “great moment” at a time “for me, for my family, for my country” after his points victory against the British Tyson Fury.

“The Ukrainians strike hard! And in the end, all our opponents will be defeated”, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky quickly reacted on Telegram. The success of the unified champion of the four heavyweight belts shows that “Ukrainian endurance and strength give birth to Ukrainian victory”added the head of state of the country at war.

kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, a former world heavyweight boxer, also said that Usyk had “showed the world that Ukrainians are capable of defeating a strong opponent”a “very important victory for Ukraine today”. His brother Wladimir Klitschko, also a former world heavyweight champion and who attended the fight, greeted a “historic victory” of Usyk for whom “losing was not an option”. “I am very proud of Oleksandr Usyk and very proud to be Ukrainian”he chanted.

On the side of the armed forces, the commander of the Ukrainian Air Force Mykola Oleshchuk estimated that “Ukraine once again shows that it is a strong nation capable of fighting for its identity, language, culture and traditions”. A combat unit posted an enthusiastic message: “Glory to Ukraine! Glory to those who defend it and those who glorify it!”.

For TV host and actor Sergiy Prytula, Usyk “won today. And with him, Ukraine won. And when Ukraine wins, he and all of us will win with it! Congratulations to the absolute champion!” “Thank you! We are proud”soberly commented singer Jamala, winner of the 2016 Eurovision contest.

By adding the WBC title of his opponent of the day to his WBA, WBO and IBF trophies, Oleksandr Usyk is the first undisputed champion in the category since Lennox Lewis in 1999.