Usyk: This is not just the flag of Ukraine. This is the color of freedom of the whole world

WBA/WBO/IBF/IBO Heavyweight Champion Oleksandr Usyk (20-0, 13 KOs) reacted to prohibition of the junior national boxing team of Ukraine to compete under the flag of Ukraine.

“I want to support the Ukrainian boxing team, which was banned from entering the European Championship with the flag of Ukraine. Umar (Kremlin), this is not just a flag. This is the color of freedom of the whole world. You will not be able to break the spirit of our guys who compete. You can’t even dream about it.”

“Guys, you are very big fellows. You show our spirit. Glory to God and glory to Ukraine,” Usyk said.

Earlier, the Ukrainian junior boxing team left the European Championship, which takes place in Italy. This decision was made after the International Boxing Federation (IBA) did not allow the Ukrainian team to compete in Italian Montesilvano under the national flag.

Recall that due to the conflict between the FBU and the IBA, the junior team of Ukraine was forced to compete at the European Boxing Championship under a neutral flag. However, Ukrainian athletes held a protest against this decision and refused to compete at the European Championships.

President of the Boxing Federation of Ukraine Kirill Shevchenko said that the decision of the IBA is directly related to Volodymyr Prodivus, who holds the post of vice president in the organization. Prodivus himself, commenting on the scandal with the Ukrainian team, promised to resolve the situation.

Earlier, the IBA suspended the activities of the Boxing Federation of Ukraine. The organization considered that the state bodies of Ukraine were interfering in the work of the sports organization.