-
Mike Coppinger, ESPN Boxing Insider
Heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk was detained Tuesday at Krakow Airport in Poland and subsequently released after Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry intervened, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on social media.
A source told ESPN that Usyk, a native of Ukraine, was detained after he attempted to board a flight to Valencia, Spain, where he is set to begin preparations for his Dec. 21 heavyweight championship rematch with Tyson Fury in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Usyk and his trainer, Sergey Lapin, were denied boarding after an airline official determined they were not fit to travel, a source said.
According to a source, Usyk explained that they were fine to fly and were simply exhausted from a nearly 14-hour travel day from Kyiv, the capital of war-torn Ukraine, that included a 557-mile drive. Between the language barrier and Usyk being adamant that they were not impaired in any way, he was detained.
Usyk’s wife, Katheryna, was traveling with Usyk and Lapin. She posted a video on social media that showed Usyk being led away in handcuffs on the jet bridge. She said the matter was “nothing criminal.”
“A misunderstanding took place,” Usyk wrote on social media. “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.”
Zelensky wrote on social media that he spoke with Usyk after he was detained. His post included a photo of Usyk alongside a Ukrainian official.
“I was disappointed by this attitude towards our citizen and champion,” Zelensky wrote in his post. “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, 37, is ESPN’s No. 1 pound-for-pound boxer. The Olympic gold medalist defeated Fury in May via decision to become boxing’s first undisputed heavyweight champion since 2002. Usyk is expected to be ringside in London on Saturday for Anthony Joshua’s title fight against Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium. Usyk defeated Joshua to become unified champion in 2021 and again in the rematch one year later.