Oleksandr Usyk caused a stir across the boxing world on Tuesday night when he was taken into custody by uniformed officers in Poland.
The incident took place at Krakow Airport, where Usyk was taken away in handcuffs as he attempted to board a plane.
2
Usyk is the undisputed heavyweight world champion and has previously defeated two of Britain’s superstar heavyweights, Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.
The Ukrainian is scheduled to fight Fury again in Saudi Arabia in December. But his detention could hamper that task.
However, the 37-year-old was later released after the case was deemed to be a misunderstanding.
Why was Oleksandr Usyk detained?
according to ESPNUsyk was flying from the Polish capital to Valencia, Spain, where he is due to begin camp for his December 21 fight with Fury.
But Usyk was placed in handcuffs after an airlines official determined the champion boxer and his trainer Sergey Lapin were not fit to travel.
When will Tyson Fury fight Anthony Joshua?Usyk reportedly said he and his instructor were fit to fly but were exhausted by the 557-mile, 14-hour journey from Kiev.
Usyk’s wife Katherina was travelling with her husband and reassured everyone on social media that the case was ‘not a criminal matter’.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also got involved and secured Usyk’s release.
“I am disappointed by this attitude towards our citizen and champion,” Zelenskyy wrote online alongside a photo of Usyk with a Ukrainian official.
2
“I have instructed Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrei Tsibiha and Ukrainian Internal Affairs Minister Igor Klimenko to immediately investigate all details of the incident at Krakow airport.”
“Now everything is fine, our champion has been released, and will no longer be held in custody.”
“There was a misunderstanding,” Usyk wrote on social media.
“It was resolved quickly. Thanks to everyone who expressed concern. Thanks to Ukrainian diplomats for efficient cooperation. And respect to the Polish police for carrying out their duties regardless of height, weight, reach and dignity.”
I was working 6am shifts as an electrician before a life-changing call, now I’m the biggest underdog on the Anthony Joshua undercard
