Boxer Alexander Povetkin said he supported the decision of his colleague Alexander Usik to refuse fights with the Russians. The heavyweight also said that he did not even consider the possibility of meeting with a Ukrainian athlete in the ring.
“Handsome, well done. Anyway, they’ll translate into politics, so I probably did it right. Alexander is a good and strong boxer. I somehow did not think about the fight with him. At least we never had any talk on this subject, ”Povetkin told TASS.
Usyk announced his decision to avoid fights with Russian boxers at the end of August. At that time, there was talk about who the former undisputed world champion in the first heavyweight would hold a debut fight in the heavyweight category. The candidates were considered as Povetkin, who won the WBA International belt in a duel with Huey Fury, and Andrei Fedosov, 33, who returned to boxing. However, Usik decided to delete them from his list of potential rivals in order to do without political aspects.
“There was information that Andrei Fedosov would become a rival. No, he will not be my rival. Why? Even before this, they discussed that Alexander Povetkin would be the opponent. I have already said that I do not want to box with these guys, because they will necessarily transfer it to the political plane and will call each other rude words. It doesn’t suit me, I don’t need it, ”said Usyk live on Instagram.
As the athlete explained, he normally treats Russian boxers and members of their families, therefore he does not want “dirt that will pour from both sides”.
Now Usyk is preparing for his debut in the heavyweight category. In weight up to 90.7 kg, the Ukrainian has already achieved everything he wanted. He became the absolute champion after a duel with the Russian Murat Gassiev and then held one defense of all belts, defeating Tony Bellew by technical knockout. Not wanting to fight with already familiar rivals, Usyk decided to challenge himself.
Usik's debut was supposed to take place on May 25 against Cameroonian Carlos Takam, but was postponed due to a biceps injury in a Ukrainian athlete. Soon after, a duel took place between Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz, which ended in a sensational victory for the Mexican, who won four championship belts.
Opponents immediately agreed on a rematch on December 7, after which it was decided that Usyk would meet with the winner of the second fight. The World Boxing Organization (WBO), whose super champion was a native of Crimea, agreed to make him a mandatory contender for the title fight.
This fight with Joshua or Ruiz will take place no earlier than 2020, and until then Usik needs to try his hand at the new weight category and find a strong enough opponent to debut. The Ukrainian has already decided on the date and place of the battle - it will take place on October 12 in Chicago. But about the probable opponent for a long time there were different conversations. Takam, in the end, decided to sign a contract for another fight, and Usyk cut off the opportunity to meet with Russian boxers, although his promoter Eddie Hearn did not deny the option of a fight with Fedosov.
“Takam signed a contract with someone else. He lifted the price (for his participation. - RT ), which was stupid of him. We are considering several options: Andrey Fedosov and Bryant Jennings. Usyk will be in a fight between Vasily Lomachenko and Luke Campbell in London, where we will announce his rival, ”said Hearn Xicana Boxing.
In the end, the Dutchman Tyrone Spong, better known as kickboxer, but also having statistics not stained by defeats from 14 victories in professional boxing, was named Usik's rival
The team of Fedosov reacted to Usik's refusal with restraint, recalling his duel with Gassiev, which took place in Moscow in the summer of 2018.
“We will do another fight. Usik used to not talk about this, but he fought with Murat Gassiev. There were no problems, ”promoter Alex Weissfeld quotes TASS.
In Povetkin’s camp, Usik’s statements were understood with understanding. Even before the fight between the Russian and the Fury, the promoter of the boxer Alexander Ryabinsky noted that in any case he would not like to reduce his ward with Usik in the ring.
“The issue of meeting Usik and Povetkin has never been in the mode of a concrete commercial discussion. The possibility of such a meeting was constantly exaggerated in the press, in social networks and rumors, but there was no official agreement. Therefore, it is wrong to say that someone abandoned this fight. Neither Usyk, nor Povetkin. They are both wonderful people and high-class boxers who are ready to fight with anyone, they do not have any complexes and fears. The only thing I don’t want them to fight against each other, because both impress both athletes and people, ”Ryabinsky told Gazeta.Ru.
It is worth noting that although Usyk is not inclined to box with opponents from Russia, he himself is not opposed to participating in his boxing evening in Chicago on October 12. Hearn confirmed that Dmitry Bivol and Murat Gassiev will hold their fights on the undercard of the evening.