OLEKSANDR USYK has reportedly opened the door to a Ukraine versus Russia boxing battle against Alexander Povetkin.
The pound-for-pound star this year enlisted with the Kyiv Territorial Defence after Russia’s invasion.
But he left his homeland in the summer to train for his rematch with Anthony Joshua, 33, which he won on points in August.
Usyk, 35, has since returned to his family in the war-torn country and shelved a unification bout with Tyson Fury, 34, after doing so.
The heavyweight, who branded Vladimir Putin “very weak”, was quizzed on fighting Russians.
In response, he told Polish site Interia: “What’s this for? I’ve beaten them so many times!”
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In his professional career, Usyk has only beaten two opponents from Russia but made a career out of it during his amateur reign.
Povetkin, 43, retired from boxing in June 2021 after being knocked out in his rematch with Dillian Whyte, 34.
Asked about a potential fight, Usyk said: “Well, I would have done that. I’d have no choice but to slap him hard.”
Fury, 34, returns on December 3 in a trilogy bout against Derek Chisora, 38, who he beat one-sidedly in 2011 and 2014.
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But talks are already underway for the heavyweight division’s first ever four-belt undisputed bout next year in Saudi Arabia.
Usyk said: “We’ll have to come to terms with this. Sport is sport and business is business.
“For me, boxing is just a sport, and for those who organize it, it’s big business. There are two boxers in the ring. Their job is to box.
“Everything else is organizers, sponsors and many other factors to be considered.
“As soon as we establish everything, we will come to an agreement, we will sign official documents – we will work.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
