OLEKSANDR USYK sent shockwaves throughout the boxing world on Tuesday night after he was DETAINED by uniformed officers in Poland.
The incident took place at Krakow Airport and saw Usyk being led away in handcuffs while he was trying to board a flight.
Usyk is the undisputed heavyweight world champion and has previously beaten Britain’s two superstar heavyweights Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.
The Ukrainian is set to rematch Fury in December in Saudi Arabia. But his detainment could’ve put a spanner in the works.
The 37-year-old, however, was later releassed after the matter was deemed to be a misunderstanding.
Why was Oleksandr Usyk detained?
According to ESPN, Usyk was boarding a flight from Poland’s capital to Valencia, Spain, where he is to begin camp for his December 21 rematch with Fury.
But Usyk was put in cuffs after an airline official determined the champion boxer and his trainer Sergey Lapin were not fit to travel.
It’s being reported that Usyk explained he and his trainer were fit to fly and that they were exhausted from an apparent 557-mile drive and 14 hours of travelling from Kiev.
Usyk’s wife Katheryna was travelling with her husband and quickly assured everyone on social media that the matter was ‘nothing criminal’.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky also got involved and secured Usyk’s release.
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“I was disappointed by this attitude towards our citizen and champion,” Zelensky wrote online alongside a picture of Usyk with a Ukrainian official.
“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 Krakow airport.
“Now, everything is fine, our champion has been released, and he is no longer being detained.”
Usyk wrote on social media: “A misunderstanding took place.
“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.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
