Oleksandr Usyk ahead of his fight with Tyson Fury (Image: Oleksandr Usyk ahead of his fight with Tyson Fury)
has shockingly recounted a childhood incident where he drank himself into a stupor at the tender age of six, admitting he thought he might die.
The 37 year old heavyweight champion is gearing up for his highly anticipated rematch with this Saturday night. Earlier this year, Usyk made history by becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999, after defeating ‘The Gypsy King’—Fury’s first career loss.
During their initial bout in May, Fury seemed to dominate the early rounds, but Usyk turned the tables in the ninth round, leaving Fury reeling and fortunate to survive until the bell. Despite Fury’s efforts, he couldn’t recover his earlier form, and Usyk triumphed on points. As the rematch looms, Usyk shared a light-hearted anecdote from his past during
Reflecting on the last time he was intoxicated, Usyk said: “Listen, it was a very, very long [time ago]. I was six, maybe seven years old. It was mum’s birthday and we lived in Crimea. We had a small room, one room and one bedroom. It was very, very small.”
The 37 year old recounted the chaotic scene, mimicking someone sniffing their drink before taking a sip: “It’s an alcoholic drink. [I thought]: ‘Maybe it’s not bad? ‘ I took a drink, watched how it felt, drank the lemonade and then ‘ugh’. Then I walk in and I don’t know what’s going on in my mind. But I took a bad step, broke my step and I [fell over]. I was like: ‘What’s going on? ‘” He continued, describing his parents’ reaction, “My mum [said]: ‘Oh my God. What’s going on? My father [said]: ‘I know what’s going on. This man is drinking, drinking, drinking. I remember thinking: ‘Oh my God, it’s bad’.
“I never drink like this because my mind does not work. I’m gonna go to sleep. I go to the bedroom and…” Usyk then detailed his distress, “I’m drinking water and [say]: ‘Help me, please help me. I’m gonna die. I’m gonna die’. My father [says] ‘No, no, you will live’. No, I’m gonna die.” He added his preference for alcohol, “I can drink wine, beer, but not a lot. But I like red wine, Corona, Coronita with lemon.”
Ahead of their highly anticipated rematch, Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk seems to be in top form, eager to conclude his rivalry. He confidently stated, “I feel good,” and elaborated on the continuity of their battle, saying, “It continues, the 13th round because I feel like this. Tyson Fury too had a chance in the sixth round, maybe the seventh round, maybe 12th, 11th, first, second. But Tyson did not do it. It’s just talk. Tyson said I had the chance. Yeah, no problem. We have a second fight, I’ll try.”