Ukrainian President Zelenskyy Steps In As Oleksandr Usyk Was Arrested in Airport
On Tuesday, heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk was detained at an airport in Poland.
According to a report from ESPN, the Ukrainian superstar was handcuffed and escorted off a jet bridge at Krakow Airport in Poland while trying to board a flight to Valencia, Spain where he’s expected to begin preparing for his highly anticipated rematch with Tyson Fury on December 21 in Saudi Arabia.
According to a source, Usyk and his trainer, Sergey Lapin, were denied boarding after an airline official determined they were not fit to travel.
Fortunately, the incident was resolved quickly according to Usyk who took to social media shortly after his release.
“Dear friends, a misunderstanding took place,” Usyk wrote on X. “It was quickly resolved. Thanks to all who got concerned. Thanks to Ukrainian diplomats for the efficient support. And respect to Polish Police for conducting their obligations with no regards to height, weight, reach and regalia” (h/t BJPenn.com).
Ukrainian President aids in resolving Oleksandr Usyk Detainment
Helping in the resolution was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy who engaged Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry. Not long after, Usyk was allowed to travel, but Zelenskyy was still left “disappointed” by the treatment that Usyk and Lapin received during their travels.
“I spoke with Oleksandr Usyk on the phone after he was detained, I was disappointed by this attitude towards our citizen and champion,” Zelenskyy wrote. ‘I instructed the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, and the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Ihor Klymenko, to immediately look into all the details of the incident at Kraków airport.
“Now, everything is fine, our champion has been released, and he is no longer being detained. In the photo, he is with our Consul General in Kraków right after being released.”
Ranked as ESPN’s No. 1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world, Usyk is a perfect 22-0 in his career with noteworthy wins against Derek Chisora, Anthony Joshua, Daniel Dubois, and the aforementioned Tyson Fury. Usyk is expected to be in attendance this Saturday night when Joshua defends his IBF heavyweight world title against Dubois at Wembley Stadium.
