“He Had Already Been Lying in the Coffin”: Oleksandr Usyk Couldn’t Stop Crying Talking About His Late Father Who Was a Big Fan of Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali

It would be hard for many to conjecture that Oleksandr Usyk was crying on camera, remembering his father, who passed away nearly a decade ago. As a champion, he enjoys an impeccable and incomparable amateur record of 335 wins against 15 losses. In 2013, over a year after the Olympic gold medal, Usyk switched over to professional boxing. Ever since he hasn’t looked back. Last week, millions of fans and followers saw him sitting on the ringside of the Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou megafight.

Later, he was seen taking photos and enjoying talks with other boxing legends. TNT Sports, which had the exclusive right to telecast the Fury-Ngannou match in the UK, caught up with the unified Heavyweight champion for a bare-it-all discussion. So Usyk told TNT’s Steve Bunce how he stood alongside other boxing legends such as Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson, and immediately his thoughts rolled back to his father. A voice inside thanked his father. Oleksandr Usyk knew that somewhere his loving father would be watching him.

An emotional tribute to a father: Oleksandr Usyk remembers his father

Bunce asked whether his father had been a fan of all those boxing legends whose names he mentioned. Usyk replied that his father used to follow those big names, but subsequently, he became his son’s biggest fan. Otherwise, his father was crazy about Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson, and Lennox Lewis. The TNT reporter asked, “Was your father still alive when you started to have great success?”

Oleksandr Usyk replied, “He watched me become an Olympic champion, but I didn’t make it on time to show him the gold medal. When I arrived, he had already been lying in the coffin. I handed him the medal, put it in his dead hand, and then left the room.”

Bunce tried to get a little more detail and asked Usyk whether Usyk senior passed away before he arrived home. The unified heavyweight champion replied that he was on his way back home from London and was already in Ukraine. However, he had ordered a supercar and was waiting for its delivery. He desperately wanted his father to see the model and be proud of his son’s achievements. But before he could do so, his mother called him up and shared the sad news.

Then Bunce asked whether he could feel his father. Oleksandr Usyk replied in the affirmative and shared how many times his father came to visit him before a fight. With that, he couldn’t control his tears. Even Steve Bunce got emotional. Finally, the TNT reporter mentioned that his son’s accomplishments would make Usyk senior very proud. The Heavyweight champion replied, “He would tell me that.”

On to the rollercoaster after a break

As far as the ring goes, Usyk returned after a gap of more than a year to defend his title against Daniel Dubois on August 26. Though he won via technical knockout, the match wasn’t without controversy on account of the low-blow call. Finally, it took the WBA to review the appeal and uphold the initial decision in Usyk’s favor.

Just when the heat around the Fury-Ngannou fight picked up, news of the undisputed title fight started filtering in. Reportedly, December 23 had been decided as the initial fight date. However, given the latest update by Tyson Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, the fight seems to have been postponed. It could now take place either in January or February. Many fans and followers are looking forward to Oleksandr Uysk becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis ascended the throne back in 1999.

Read More: “I Love You”: Despite Tyson Fury and Frank Warren’s Uncertainty, Oleksandr Usyk Insists ‘The Gypsy King’ to Fight on December 23 With an Awkward Message

Amidst recent developments on the Tyson Fury fight, who do you think Usyk should pick up next if he decides to move on? Please share your views with us in the comments below.

Watch This Story: Oleksandr Usyk Training Routine Amid Russia-Ukraine Conflict