Oleksandr Usyk is one of boxing's greats – but he'll never be able to enjoy success due to horrors of Ukraine war
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OLEKSANDR USYK'S fame and fortune is a 'curse' while his friends and countrymen are lying dead in trenches and bomb sites.
Derek Chisora lost a 12-round decision against the two-weight undisputed genius in 2020 but the pair bashed up an unlikely bromance.
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Derek Chisora has claimed Oleksandr Usyk can't enjoy his success and money
Credit: The Sun
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Usyk became undisputed heavyweight champion again last weekend
Credit: PA
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Usyk beat Daniel Dubois with a fifth round knockout
Credit: EPA
The heavyweight heroes meet at a Ukrainian sauna when the Brit-basher visits London, and they speak regularly on the phone, when the 41-year-Londoner can hear missiles and rockets raging over his roof.
Del Boy was ringside to watch Usyk's latest four-belt crowning over Daniel Dubois on Saturday night at Wembley, cementing his place as a generational talent and a multi-millionaire.
But he told our Split Decision YouTube show that all the belts and cash in the world are wasted on the devout 38-year-old, while Vladimir Putin lays siege to his home and slaughters his nation.
Chisora explained: 'He has made so much money but he can't enjoy it because his country is at war.
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'He can't go around driving a Lamborghini while his friends are having their houses destroyed and they are dying. He is cursed.
'He can't go on holiday in St Tropez and sunbathe and drink tequila because his friends are in the trenches.
'He can't enjoy his money. He can't because he is all Ukraine has right now."
Since the 2022 invasion, Usyk has scythed through British boxing's best big men.
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Usyk is a proud Ukrainian
Credit: Getty
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After Chisora was outpointed, the gap-toothed southpaw did almost faultless doubles over Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and now 27-year-old Dubois.
And the Englishman reckons the sickening onslaught his people are facing is inspiring him in a way that transcends sport.
Oleksandr Usyk has press conference in stitches as he NAMES the left hook that floored Daniel Dubois at Wembley
He said: 'The population is going down because so many people, young men, are dying.
'It's so difficult for him but it's also why he is so dedicated, he is doing it for his whole nation.
'If it's your destiny then it's your destiny. If God says it's your path then nothing will take you away from it.'
Arguments about cross-generation fantasy fights will rage on in pubs and online forums.
But Chisora tries to keep it short and sweet.
He added: 'Usyk is 100 per cent a top-10 heavyweight and he is in my top-five.
'European amateur champion, Olympic gold medalist, undisputed cruiserweight world champion and two-time undisputed heavyweight champion.
'What more else can he do? He has whooped us all. He has taken the p***!'
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