“I absolutely do not divide people into any religions, creeds, political views.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I need to become the undisputed heavyweight champion. As soon as I become, I will turn back and say, ‘Guys, thank you very much for your participation. Thanks everyone.’ I will thank the Lord, I will go to the ground and say farewell, and I will go home.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“Physical pain is temporary.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“A lot of people don’t believe in me. They think I’m too small for heavyweight. Just like a lot of people told me long ago that I shouldn’t box. That I wasn’t going to make it. I just knock my head and say I’m capable. I can do it.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I am Ukrainian and fighting like a Ukrainian.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I’m not a monster; I’m a white rabbit.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“The Olympics is still my greatest achievement… I have many belts, but there is only one Olympic gold.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“If you want to be great in what you’re doing, you really need to limit yourself, so I consider my life as the life of a monk.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I don’t want my fans to shout any insults at my opponent.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“No-one but me gets into my head.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I became the European amateur champion in Liverpool back in 2008. I visited the Beatles museum, and after the final, I went to a drum and bass disco.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“We need to put goals in front of us and move towards them.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“If people become kinder to each other and begin to forgive some bitterness, if they begin to love their neighbor as the Most High loves us, then I am for it.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I don’t want to work with a person just to have someone there.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“The most that hurts is I couldn’t see my kids growing up. They grow and go. Most of the time, I’m in training camps. I couldn’t see that happening. This hurts me.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“The toughest opponent is me. A lot of times, you don’t want to train. You don’t want to box. Sometimes, life hits you to the point where you don’t even want to live. You have to fight with that person. You have to make yourself wake up in the morning. You have to make yourself watch your weight. That’s how I fight with that person.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I’m not exactly a huge Beatles fan, but when I have a chance to visit a legendary place like the Beatles museum, I definitely use it. It’s historic.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“The team I support is Manchester City. And that’s because a friend of mine, who I visited when I was in England, Alexander Zinchenko, plays for them.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I had a goal to become the undisputed champion in cruiserweight, and I achieved this goal.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I am interested in the heavyweight division, and I’ll tell you why: Many experts say that I shouldn’t go up in weight, that I’m too small for it. My size does not allow me to be victorious in this division.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I actually don’t like boxers who talk too much.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“During my career, all my most fruitful victories have been on the opponents’ territories, so the support of the British fans to Tony Bellew doesn’t bother me a lot.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I really liked the atmosphere at Wembley, and I would like to box there, too.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I picked Tony Bellew because he is the man that takes the biggest challenges. He is not the usual type of fighter that will come, see how hard it is, and quit. He will come to fight until the end. These are the kind of fights that the world wants to see.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I hate when people call me a star, because I don’t consider myself to be a star.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I may sound a bit crazy, but I get really excited with all the enormous hard work that I put myself through every day.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“If you put a person in a training gym made out of entire gold, it doesn’t guarantee that this person will become a champion. But if you put a person in the basement, then there is a high chance that he will get out of this basement as a champion.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“Boxing, for me, is all about drama and victory, and there is plenty more to come.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“A fight with Tony Bellew would be a momentous occasion. He is a good boxer and a good person, and I also have the option to move into the heavyweight division.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“Fans can look forward to watching me take on the biggest and best names in the sport.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“England is a lucky country for me, and fortune comes only with hard work.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I miss the ring and look forward to hearing the opening bell ring again.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I will box with passion and devotion.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I’m getting better with each bout and looking to close out 2014 in style.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I will move up to heavyweight and show them all how good I am.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I like Britain because that is where boxing was born.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I do think Briedis will be the toughest opponent I have faced in my professional career. He is 23-0, he’s a cruiserweight, and he can punch, and that makes anyone dangerous.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“To me, it’s a common thing to go somewhere and box there.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“This is what respect means: when you support your favourite without badmouthing his opponent. This is respect, and it’s a common thing. It doesn’t matter what country or city you represent.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“If you are an educated man, you respect your opponent, his team, and all those people around; then you are truly a human being.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“What I do and what I love, I don’t betray that. Sometimes people say you have to tolerate it. No, you have to do what you think necessary, what your heart tells you, and go where the Almighty leads you.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“Some people think a boxer is a gloomy guy with this heavy brow who always has to be serious. But why can’t you laugh a bit, make a joke?”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I heard Tony Bellew is looking for a fight with the winner of the Muhammad Ali Trophy. I hope he will see me.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“In the beginning, somebody told me there was a record in the cruiserweight division where Evander Holyfield became the champion. I thought about that, and I told my team, ‘Let’s make our own history, our own record, to beat Holyfield’s record.’”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“There are two different kinds of spectacular fighters. One is a subtle counter puncher who shows the work like chess. It’s kind of an art, sports art. The other kind is when a guy has blood on all his body. That’s a second kind of spectacular fighter, and people enjoy both. Both kind of fighters need to be respected.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I’d love to fight any of the titleholders, any time, any place.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I do not care where I fight.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“Briedis is a good fighter, but the only thing he has that I want is his belt.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“The fight for the Muhammad Ali trophy is about the best fighting the best.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I like the color green, and the WBC belt is green, so I can’t wait to get that belt.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I have nothing bad to say about Briedis. His style is a bit boring, but I respect him. Briedis is a world champion, so he has to be good.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I’m very excited to fight for the first time in the United States and on HBO.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“It doesn’t matter which city, which country my opponent is from – and I am not worried about fighting in Moscow.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I’m very happy to fight on the same card with Vasyl Lomachenko and Oleksandr Gvozdyk. This is something we’ve been talking about since we were amateurs – to have three members of the 2012 Ukrainian Olympic team in the same event.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I want to relax and spend time with my family.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“Wembley was crazy stuff. The songs, the noise… best fans ever. My hair was up all the way.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“Becoming the heavyweight champion is not what I’m dreaming of – it’s my goal. It’s what I’m planning to do.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“Those kinds of fights when a warrior meets a warrior is something that should definitely take place in boxing.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I have a very good impression of the United States, and I am very excited to fight here.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“From the beginning of my career, I wanted to fight in the United States, and now my dreams come true.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I like and respect Holyfield.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I want to become a star in the United States because I want to show everyone quality boxing.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I am an athlete, a warrior.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I do not care where I fight; I just want to fight.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“The biggest motivation for me is my desire to be the best.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I give 100 percent every day in the gym.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I love California. The weather is fantastic.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I want to have all four cruiserweight titles in the future.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“When I have to get prepared for a fight, I leave my family. Then I live with my team. Otherwise, it will embarrass me: the children want to play.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“My mom said to me: ‘Sonny, you need to study English.’ And I replied to her: ‘Mom, I do not need it. I’m going to be horse-boy, would I speak English with horses?’ Mom said: ‘Darling, you need to.’ But I did not listen to my mother.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I am not looking for fame. I prefer to have a normal life.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I live in Ukraine with my family. I love my country, family, friends, people. I fight for them. I fight for Ukraine.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I love England.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
“I will never forget the 2012 Olympic Games in London.”
― Oleksandr Usyk
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