Boxer Oleksander Usyk has dedicated uniting his heavyweight titles to God after beating British boxer Tyson Fury.
“I want to thank everyone who prayed for me,” Usyk told Sky News after the match. “I want to thank God for the help that he gave me today because he did give me a lot today. My Lord is Jesus Christ.”
Usyk became an Orthodox Christian as a child while in the hospital after a conversation with a chaplain who was visiting children in his ward. Since then, he has been very vocal about his faith, giving praise to the Lord after his boxing victories.
Usyk and Fury faced each other during a match in Saudi Arabia on Saturday. Usyk won on a split points decision after the pair went the full 12 rounds. Usyk continued, “I devote this victory to my country, to my family, to my team, to all people, military who are defending the country, thank you so much.”
It’s understood that Usyk was fighting on the frontline in Kyiv but left the country in March to prepare for his rematch with Fury.
“This is already history; many generations will watch this fight, especially the round when someone tried to beat me hard, but I stood it and turned it in a different way. Thank God,” Usyk continued. When asked about his future and whether he will become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, he said, “Only God knows if I will or not. Thanks, Lord, for everything.”
