September 2021. A sold out Tottenham Hotstpur Stadium.
There, Oleksandr Usyk won three World Cup titles after defeating Anthony Joshua in a unanimous decision.
Now he is getting ready for a return meeting - and in parallel, Russia's invasion of his homeland, Ukraine.
Usyk admits during a press conference that he did not want to leave the country.
"I went to a hospital where soldiers were injured and recovering from the war," he told Reuters.
- They wanted me to fight - for the country, for pride.
They said that if I did, it would help the country.
Usyk feels that with the return meeting with Joshua, he will bring some happiness to his people.
- I know that many of my closest friends right now are standing at the front line and fighting.
The 35-year-old left shortly after the Russian invasion of Kyiv.
- Every day I was there I prayed to God: "Please god, do not let anyone try to kill me.
Please do not let anyone shoot me and do not let me shoot anyone ”.
The return meeting between Usyk and Joshua will take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on August 20.
SEE ALSO: Anthony Joshua: "Will Beat Usyk and Show That I'm a Legend" (June 25, 2022)
Javascript is disabled
Javascript must be turned on to play video
Read more about browser support
Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua at a press conference ahead of the return meeting on 20 August.
Photo: TT