Oleksandr Usyk lost 10kg in seven days while fighting on the frontline in Ukraine, his wife has revealed.
Courageously defending his country against Russia’s invasion, the heavyweight was ‘torn apart’ by the conflict.
Usyk’s wife Kateryna has shared a harrowing account of her husband’s time on the ground, telling PravdaTUT Lviv: “Sasha lost 10 kilograms in a week of the war. He was so horrified, in such shock, he was so torn apart.
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“I said, 'Sasha, please, people are asking, you need to speak, somehow support'. It is very difficult for him. He doesn’t really like giving interviews in normal, peacetime anyway. Now it’s difficult for him but he still goes on the air to say something.”
She added: "His position is clear, he has always been for Ukraine. He has always glorified it and will glorify it for as long as he has enough health and strength."
Usyk left Ukraine last month to prepare for his rematch with Anthony Joshua.
Speaking to Blockasset after his departure, the boxer revealed he had discussed his stepping down from the frontline to prepare for the match with former heavyweight champions Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko.
Usyk said the war is still ‘constantly on his mind’ but that he wants to ‘get rid of such thoughts’ before defending his title against Joshua.
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He explained: “Boxing is a sport and skill, while war is survival. In comparison with war, boxing is child's play. I have to work out thoroughly during my training period in order to be able to show my best performance.
"In other words, now I want to concentrate on my preparation because at the moment I cannot stop thinking about the war, about my friends in Ukraine. I have to get rid of such thoughts in order to prepare for the Joshua fight."
Usyk and Joshua’s rematch will likely take place in June or July, with Saudi Arabia said to have bid an eye-watering £90 million in the hopes of playing host.
Speaking during an Instagram video in February, Usyk pleaded for a quick end to the war shortly after arriving back in Ukraine to fight.
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He told his 1.7 million followers: “Dear Ukraine and dear Ukrainians, some wrote about me running away. Not true, I had a work trip and now I'm back. I'm home.
"Friends, we need to unite together and overcome this, because we are faced with exceptional difficulties.
"I'm very overcome with emotions and I'm very concerned for my country and for our people. Friends we must stop this war and we must do it together."
If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information
Aisha Nozari