The thunder for Alexander Usyk is roaring on two fronts: the boxing arena where he is preparing to fight Tyson Fury at DAZN PPV this Saturday, and the war-ravaged fields of his homeland. In the exclusive Interview for Mail Sporthe shared a poignant moment that transcended mere sport. The Ukrainian heavyweight carefully opened a letter from a soldier from the front with the same name Alexander, call sign “Skhet”. This fighter from the Armed Forces of Ukraine poured his soul on paper, praising Usyk for carrying the torch of Ukrainian boxing.
“Dear Mr. Alexander,” the letter began. “My brothers and I watch all your fights whenever possible and we root for you with all our hearts.” Those words echoed like a gunshot, full of emotion and pride. The soldier recounted the brutal positions in Kiev, Bakhmut and Kherson, describing how each of Usik’s victories blazed like a fiery beacon cutting through the darkness of war. “We know what hard work is and what every victory is worth,” he wrote, tying the blood and sweat of the battlefield to the spirit of the boxing ring.
Usyk, who once enlisted in the Territorial Defense of Kyiv to protect his homeland, felt every blow as a call to arms. When he finished reading, he looked up, his eyes burning with conviction. “This gives me extra motivation,” he declared. “I am very grateful to Alexander and our Ukrainian soldiers who support my country and fight to protect it. I’m doing this for them.”
Mail Sport joined him in camp ahead of his rematch with Fury on December 21. But behind the scenes, the conflict in Ukraine looms like a storm cloud.
