THE SHADOWBOXER
The Ring: Do you in any way fight to bring more people to the sport, to fall in love with the sport? Usyk: One of my goals is to change people’s attitude towards boxing. Boxing is a very highly intelligent sport. It isn’t just a fight between two guys. It’s a very smart sport where you have to understand, not just to wave your fists around. The Ring: Is there anyone from the past who you’ve dreamed about fighting? Usyk: I wouldn’t want to fight him, I would want to sit down with him and thank him for his influence in boxing: Muhammad Ali. The Ring: Did you ever meet Ali? Usyk: I saw him at the Olympic games in 2012. When I saw him, my legs started to shake. When I saw him at the opening ceremony, I understood right away that this was a message for me that I will become Olympic champion. The Ring: If you were not Ukrainian, how would your career have been different? How much has it meant to you being a Ukrainian boxer and champion? Usyk: We cannot talk about this. God sent me to be born IN Ukraine and to glorify it and to carry the flag. And that’s what I will do. The Ring: I read a quote of yours where you talked about your career from the perspective of the samurai. It was not the destination that was important, but the path that you’re on which was most important. You had so many people tell you should never try boxing. They said you could not become an Olympic champion. You shouldn’t leave the cruiserweight division to become a heavyweight.
You met such resistance. Where did the courage come to not listen and achieve all the things you have so far in your career? Usyk: I believe in God. I know he’s there. Some believe in him, but I know he is there and he tells me through messages through my thoughts to just go, and this is your plan. People are afraid to make the first step. They are afraid of the unknown. They are afraid of condemnation. I am not afraid of this. I don’t care what they say about me. This is my way. Don’t go with the flow! Create the flow! The Ring: Who was the best opponent that you have fought so far? Perhaps if you could give me the top three. Usyk: Oleksandr Usyk. Oleksandr Usyk. Oleksandr Usyk. The Ring: Fighting yourself, you mean? Usyk: Yes, of course! I am a very hard opponent. The Ring: Fighting your shadow, in a sense? Has that shadow gotten stronger as you’ve moved along your career, or are you getting better against him? Usyk: My entire life, I have been fighting my internal self that tells me to stop – “Don’t do it. Take a rest. You have a lot on your plate.” Stop again; rest more – but I tell the voice, “I don’t know you. Get out of here. I am building my life.” Today, I had a very hard training session. (Usyk was training in Valencia, Spain, at the time.) I had to run for 45 minutes at a high pace. My heart rate was 180 bpm. And when I looked at my pulse, my heart rate was in the red zone – 180-190 bpm. And you know what I was thinking? I didn’t think to stop. I thought that next to me running is my team, and even if I pass out, my team will come and save me.
boxer. But there are two legacies with Ali. There is the greatness, but also him staying in the sport too long and representing a cautionary tale. Can you learn from him and leave the sport at the right time so your legacy includes not getting hurt? Usyk: God gave him this test in order to see if he would be faithful to continue. Would he continue to believe in God or not? Yes, of course, boxing contributed to his disease, but God allows us to face these tests. God gave him this test to test his belief in God. The Ring: I just meant we all admire your courage and any boxer’s courage to fight. It takes enormous courage to do what you’re doing. But at a certain point, it might require even more courage to stop. You’re 37. Many boxers stay too long. Do you think you’ll have enough courage to leave at the right time? Usyk: I am brave. I have a date in mind for when I will finish my career. The Ring: Is it your date or God’s date? Usyk: It’s my date. God will give me the opportunity to fight to this date. The Ring: My last question is about the stuffed animal your daughter gave you – Eeyore (a donkey from the Winnie-the-Pooh children’s books). She said that it makes you more powerful. Do you consider Eeyore a performance- enhancing drug? Usyk: I think about learning to become a referee. I want to work as a referee. This is the love of my children. This is a performance-enhancing drug. This the strongest performance- enhancing drug there is. And Maria (one of his two daughters) is giving me another one. OK, I have to go to church now. Mykhailo Krasiuk translated for Usyk during the interview. Roman Jablonskyj provided further translation of the recording. The Ring greatly appreciates their contributions.
Usyk has already forged a hall-of-fame- worthy career but remains motivated and disciplined at 37.
The Ring: You mentioned Muhammad Ali as your favorite
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