'My soul, my body, and my honor belong to my nation,' says heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk after joining the Ukrainian defense unit.

He planned to fly home mere hours after the fighting began, but because the airports were blocked, he flew to Warsaw, Poland, and drove about 500 miles back home and across the border to Kyiv.

'My soul, my body, and my honor belong to my nation,' says heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk after joining the Ukrainian defense unit.

Oleksandr Usyk and Vasiliy Lomachenko, both Ukrainian boxers, were childhood buddies. They dreamed of battling their way to fame and glory as children, and together they used their fists to conquer the globe.

The 35-year-old Usyk and the 34-year-old Lomachenko have won three Olympic gold medals between them and have since established themselves as world-class boxers.
However, they are now engaged in a very different war, one that threatens their country's very existence. Usyk and Lomachenko have traveled into Ukraine, taken up rifles, and joined the territory defense unit since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24.

"I will have to do it if they want to take my life or the lives of my loved ones," he stated. "However, that is not what I want." I don't want to shoot, I don't want to murder anyone, but I'll have no choice if they kill me."
Egis Klimas, Usyk's manager, assisted with the interview and translated for Usyk, who does not speak English. Despite the dreadful circumstances in which many Ukrainians currently find themselves, Usyk claims to be fearless.

"Maybe it will come across as emotional," he said, "but my spirit belongs to the Lord, and my body and honor belong to my country and family." As a result, there is no fear at all There's just bafflement -- how could this be in the 21st century?"

He isn't boxing in Ukraine at the moment, but the noble art is still useful. He remarked, "It has helped me to be calm and psychologically prepared, and it helps me to help those who are anxious and nervous."
When Russia invaded, both men were out of the country; Usyk was in London filming sequences for an upcoming video game.


He planned to fly home mere hours after the fighting began, but because the airports were blocked, he flew to Warsaw, Poland, and drove about 500 miles back home and across the border to Kyiv.

Lomachenko was in Greece visiting a monastery and returned the next day. Rather than going directly to Odessa, he flew to Bucharest, Romania, then drove nine hours to the port, where he boarded a ship to Ukraine.
Their manager told CNN that he had no idea they were considering joining the military until they had already enlisted in the defense battalion. Former world boxing champions Vitali Klitschko and Wladimir Klitschko have also picked up guns in defense of their country. Vitali is now the Mayor of Kyiv.

'The bombing around is crazy'

Lomachenko was scheduled to speak with CNN at the same time as Usyk but wasn't responding to the calls from his manager at the time. Early Wednesday morning local time, Klimas confirmed to CNN that Lomachenko was safe and sound.
He and Usyk remain close: they are godfathers to each other's children and celebrate family birthdays together. Six days into the war, Usyk knows that nowhere is safe anymore in Ukraine.
"The bombing around is crazy," Usyk said. "They just bombed the city of Mariupol, one of my friends got a rocket in his roof. [The Russians] are not playing games."
As the fighting rages, so too does the debate about whether Russian athletes should be sanctioned for the actions of their country. Usyk chose not to weigh in directly, suggesting that there are innocent people on both sides of the conflict.
"Russian people don't really know exactly what's going on here. They're not seeing what's going on. They are victims of their President [Vladimir Putin]."
Usyk has only recently been crowned world heavyweight champion by the IBF, WBA, WBO, and IBO. In September, he won the belts by defeating Anthony Joshua in a spectacular boxing show in London. His manager claims that negotiations for a rematch this summer are well advanced.
Lomachenko, a lightweight who has won world titles in three weight divisions, was scheduled to meet George Kambosos in Australia in June.
Boxing, on the other hand, is naturally the last thing in their thoughts.
"I truly don't know when I'm going to be walking back in the ring," Usyk said in an interview with CNN, looking fatigued and distraught. "A championship belt isn't as essential to me as my country and honor."
Usyk has three children, and the sound of children's voices could be heard playing in the basement behind him during the interview.

He claims that relatives, friends, and neighbors have been huddled together for protection. "We flee when an air raid siren sounds. Of course, it's more enjoyable when there are a large number of us around; we're having a good time. But we're making an effort to have a good time." They're attempting to keep the atmosphere light for the children.
However, Usyk's boss, Klimas, stressed the gravity of the issue in a separate interview with CNN: "They're in grave peril. When the bullets start flying, it makes no difference whether you're a world champion or not. The bullet just goes through."