Boxing Champion Usyk Rejects Hero Of Ukraine Award

[Kovalev's "Man Bag"]

This made the news a couple weeks ago. I think I know why he didn't accept it.

“Ukrainian boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk has rejected a proposal to award him with the country's highest honor, the Hero of Ukraine medal, saying he doesn't need anything from the government.

"Do not bother me and that is the best support you can give me," Usyk told journalists in Kyiv on August 1.

Prime Minister Volodymyr Hroysman had proposed to award Usyk with the Hero of Ukraine title after he unified the cruiserweight division's four titles by defeating Russia's Murat Gassiev in Moscow last month.

"The hero title? I do not need any title, as for my people, for a certain part of my country's people, I am a hero," Usyk said.

"There is no need for any additional insignia," he added. "I do not need the insignia that you are giving around to those who both deserve and don't deserve it."

Usyk, a former Olympic gold medalist, now holds the WBA, IBF, WBC, and WBO belts after just 15 professional fights, all of which he won.

Usyk, who was born in Ukraine's Crimea region, says he was forced to leave the peninsula after it was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014.

Moscow has also backed separatists in a war that has killed more than 10,300 people in eastern Ukraine since April 2014.”
Boxing Champion Usyk Rejects Hero Of Ukraine Award

 

[Mr2urbo]

Why do think he didnt accept??

Does it have to do w Russia??

 

[borntoloseNOT]

Yes, why?

 

[Kovalev's "Man Bag"]

Why do think he didnt accept??

Does it have to do w Russia??

Yes, why?

Usyk was publicly scolded by a Ukrainian parliament member four days after winning the WBSS tournament in Moscow. This is what he, Vitaly Kupry, had to say in attempt to shame him. It's long so I bolded the most relevant parts.
“Ukrainian MP Vitaly Kupry has criticized cruiserweight champion Alexander Usyk for fighting in “aggressor” Russia, admonishing him for not calling for Crimea to be “returned” after his bout with Russia’s Murat Gassiev in Moscow.

In a lengthy statement on Tuesday, Kupry congratulated Usyk on the win, before admonishing the boxer for his decision to fight in Russia, failing to acknowledge the country as an “aggressor” to Ukraine, and that his thanks to the Ukrainian people following the fight were only issued under “public pressure.”

“I congratulate you on this personal victory over a Russian boxer,” Kupry wrote. “Unfortunately, I must let you know, that the patriotic Ukrainian society received this fight in a very ambiguous manner.

“Many expected from you a separate statement in the enemy’s lair, which called for the aggressor to stop the war in Donbass, return Crimea to Ukraine, free the political prisoners and prisoners of war and so on.

“Unfortunately, you never mentioned Ukraine in your post-fight press conference, and immediately after in the ring even thanked the Russian people for their support. And your belated thanks online was obviously done under public pressure,” he said.

The fighter himself has previously stated that he does not “divide” the Russian and Ukrainian people, preferring to include them in the umbrella term “Slavic people”. He is a member of Orthodox Christian movement ‘Forty times forty’, which has strong ties to Russian churches, particularly in Moscow.

“I understand that you belong to the Orthodox movement ‘Forty times forty’, which is running in Moscow. Due to this exactly you consider Russia not the aggressor but the brotherly Slavic nation. And your hugging a Russian boxer is the latest reminder of that fact,” Kupry said.

Kupry questioned Usyk’s observance of article 65 of the Ukrainian Constitution, which states that the defence of the Motherland, of the independence and territorial indivisibility of Ukraine, and respect for its state symbols, are the duties of citizens of Ukraine, before insinuating that Usyk was used as a pawn by Russian President Vladimir Putin in attempts to create a political smokescreen.

“I am thankful to you, that you did not object to the raising of the Ukrainian flag and the playing of the anthem of the enemy. However, your agreement to this fight in Russia, and not in Saudi Arabia, as it was earlier planned, has prompted huge discussion in Ukraine. Some believe that that you were sold by the more attractive fight conditions, a larger fee,” he said.

“It is extremely important for President Putin that the international community does not recognize his aggression in relation to Ukraine. Therefore he, in every way possible, encourages Ukrainian athletes, singers, other talented people to come to Russia. That was the war doesn’t look like a war, but an internal conflict.”

Kupry proceeded to ask Usyk a series of questions that he said had surfaced online, such as whether the boxer had given a chunk of his fight purse in taxes to the Ukrainian government and if not, was the reason because he holds citizenship of another country, and whether he would make a donation to the Ukrainian armed forces.”
‘The enemy’s lair’: Ukrainian deputy admonishes boxer Usyk for failing to call for Crimean return

 

[borntoloseNOT]

Usyk was publicly scolded by a Ukrainian parliament member four days after winning the WBSS tournament in Moscow. This is what he, Vitaly Kupry, had to say in attempt to shame him. It's long so I bolded the most relevant parts.
“Ukrainian MP Vitaly Kupry has criticized cruiserweight champion Alexander Usyk for fighting in “aggressor” Russia, admonishing him for not calling for Crimea to be “returned” after his bout with Russia’s Murat Gassiev in Moscow.

In a lengthy statement on Tuesday, Kupry congratulated Usyk on the win, before admonishing the boxer for his decision to fight in Russia, failing to acknowledge the country as an “aggressor” to Ukraine, and that his thanks to the Ukrainian people following the fight were only issued under “public pressure.”

“I congratulate you on this personal victory over a Russian boxer,” Kupry wrote. “Unfortunately, I must let you know, that the patriotic Ukrainian society received this fight in a very ambiguous manner.

“Many expected from you a separate statement in the enemy’s lair, which called for the aggressor to stop the war in Donbass, return Crimea to Ukraine, free the political prisoners and prisoners of war and so on.

“Unfortunately, you never mentioned Ukraine in your post-fight press conference, and immediately after in the ring even thanked the Russian people for their support. And your belated thanks online was obviously done under public pressure,” he said.

The fighter himself has previously stated that he does not “divide” the Russian and Ukrainian people, preferring to include them in the umbrella term “Slavic people”. He is a member of Orthodox Christian movement ‘Forty times forty’, which has strong ties to Russian churches, particularly in Moscow.

“I understand that you belong to the Orthodox movement ‘Forty times forty’, which is running in Moscow. Due to this exactly you consider Russia not the aggressor but the brotherly Slavic nation. And your hugging a Russian boxer is the latest reminder of that fact,” Kupry said.

Kupry questioned Usyk’s observance of article 65 of the Ukrainian Constitution, which states that the defence of the Motherland, of the independence and territorial indivisibility of Ukraine, and respect for its state symbols, are the duties of citizens of Ukraine, before insinuating that Usyk was used as a pawn by Russian President Vladimir Putin in attempts to create a political smokescreen.

“I am thankful to you, that you did not object to the raising of the Ukrainian flag and the playing of the anthem of the enemy. However, your agreement to this fight in Russia, and not in Saudi Arabia, as it was earlier planned, has prompted huge discussion in Ukraine. Some believe that that you were sold by the more attractive fight conditions, a larger fee,” he said.

“It is extremely important for President Putin that the international community does not recognize his aggression in relation to Ukraine. Therefore he, in every way possible, encourages Ukrainian athletes, singers, other talented people to come to Russia. That was the war doesn’t look like a war, but an internal conflict.”

Kupry proceeded to ask Usyk a series of questions that he said had surfaced online, such as whether the boxer had given a chunk of his fight purse in taxes to the Ukrainian government and if not, was the reason because he holds citizenship of another country, and whether he would make a donation to the Ukrainian armed forces.”
‘The enemy’s lair’: Ukrainian deputy admonishes boxer Usyk for failing to call for Crimean return

Thankyou, that pretty much explains everything.

 

[CatchnShoot]

Usyk.... you are the fucking man!

The Pigeon salutes you, bro.

 

[JayE]

Is Usyk actually a member of Sorok Sorokov, or is that just RT being RT?

 

[Mr2urbo]

Thanks for that

This Vitaly Kupri sounds like a fucking war mongerer that got his feelings hurt

 

[dembones22]

This made the news a couple weeks ago. I think I know why he didn't accept it.

“Ukrainian boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk has rejected a proposal to award him with the country's highest honor, the Hero of Ukraine medal, saying he doesn't need anything from the government.

"Do not bother me and that is the best support you can give me," Usyk told journalists in Kyiv on August 1.

Prime Minister Volodymyr Hroysman had proposed to award Usyk with the Hero of Ukraine title after he unified the cruiserweight division's four titles by defeating Russia's Murat Gassiev in Moscow last month.

"The hero title? I do not need any title, as for my people, for a certain part of my country's people, I am a hero," Usyk said.

"There is no need for any additional insignia," he added. "I do not need the insignia that you are giving around to those who both deserve and don't deserve it."

Usyk, a former Olympic gold medalist, now holds the WBA, IBF, WBC, and WBO belts after just 15 professional fights, all of which he won.

Usyk, who was born in Ukraine's Crimea region, says he was forced to leave the peninsula after it was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014.

Moscow has also backed separatists in a war that has killed more than 10,300 people in eastern Ukraine since April 2014.”
Boxing Champion Usyk Rejects Hero Of Ukraine Award

HESPECT.



THIS IS SORTA LIKE WHEN TEAM CANELO TOLD THE WBC AND MAURICIO SULAIMON, TO EAT SHIT AND LIVE. ALTHOUGH O. USYK SEEMS TO HAVE MORE NOBLE REASONS.

 

[randomg1t]

a politician giving him shit for not using his post fight speech as a political platform?

fuck you, politician. usyk is an athlete, his job was to beat a russian and he did it in spectacular fashion. and if he got paid extra money for doing it in russia, that much better. i don't see the ukranian goverment dishing out extra cash if the fight was fought in saudi arabia.

what good did this asshole think would come of this? had he congratulated the man and said something along the lines of "we will do to putin what our boxer did to his boxer", no one would give him any shit. well, no one outside russia.

 

[Kovalev's "Man Bag"]

a politician giving him shit for not using his post fight speech as a political platform?

fuck you, politician. usyk is an athlete, his job was to beat a russian and he did it in spectacular fashion. and if he got paid extra money for doing it in russia, that much better. i don't see the ukranian goverment dishing out extra cash if the fight was fought in saudi arabia.

what good did this asshole think would come of this? had he congratulated the man and said something along the lines of "we will do to putin what our boxer did to his boxer", no one would give him any shit. well, no one outside russia.

All that Usyk really needed was a clairvoyant to grant him the foresight required to read this guy's mind, a diplomatic aid to advise and prepare his speeches, and a personal secretary to make a checklist of these simple DOs & DON’Ts.

• DON'T fight in Russia regardless of the circumstances
• DO acknowledge Russia as an “aggressor” (enemy) to Ukraine
• DON'T thank the Ukrainian people following the fight (unless you're genuine!)
• DO instruct Russia to: stop the war in Donbass, return Crimea to Ukraine, free the political prisoners, and prisoners of war, and so on...
• DO mention Ukraine at the post-fight press conference
• DON'T thank the Russian people for their support
• DON'T, in any way, embrace your Russian opponent after the fight (no hugs!)
• DON'T allow the Russian national anthem to be played on behalf of your Russian opponent
• DO give a chunk of your purse in taxes to the Ukrainian government after the fight
• DO make a donation to the Ukrainian armed forces after the fight

Difficult? Perhaps. But, not rocket surgery by any stretch.
/czarcasm

 

[JayE]

All that Usyk really needed was a clairvoyant to grant him the foresight required to read this guy's mind, a diplomatic aid to advise and prepare his speeches, and a personal secretary to make a checklist of these simple DOs & DON’Ts.

• DON'T fight in Russia regardless of the circumstances
• DO acknowledge Russia as an “aggressor” (enemy) to Ukraine
• DON'T thank the Ukrainian people following the fight (unless you're genuine!)
• DO instruct Russia to: stop the war in Donbass, return Crimea to Ukraine, free the political prisoners, and prisoners of war, and so on...
• DO mention Ukraine at the post-fight press conference
• DON'T thank the Russian people for their support
• DON'T, in any way, embrace your Russian opponent after the fight (no hugs!)
• DON'T allow the Russian national anthem to be played on behalf of your Russian opponent
• DO give a chunk of your purse in taxes to the Ukrainian government after the fight
• DO make a donation to the Ukrainian armed forces after the fight

Difficult? Perhaps. But, not rocket surgery by any stretch.
/czarcasm

Fair enough (sort of, as there is still a real Civil War in Ukraine which is obviously Russian-funded and in some ways actually carried out). Kupri is part of Vitali's (as in Vitali Klitschko's) party, the conglomerate of the Petro Poroshenko Bloc and Vitali's old UDAR Party. They have a very vanilla platform (which I really don't care for). Pretty down the middle party (which I don't care for for a variety of reasons, but in the shitshow that is Ukraine, things could be worse), but if a guy like Usyk has represented Ukraine in the past and is now representing Sorok Sorokov, well, then that's exceptionally problematic for any Ukrainian who considers themselves nationalist in any sense of the word.

So, again, can't read Cyrillic, and until I talk to a few friends in Ukraine and Russia, it's going to be hard for me to ascertain, but do you have any idea if Usyk, a guy who ostensibly was for Crimea not being annexed, is now part of a group which can pretty easily be described in, well, let's say anti-Ukrainian terms (so as not to stoke too many feelings).

 

[randomg1t]

Fair enough (sort of, as there is still a real Civil War in Ukraine which is obviously Russian-funded and in some ways actually carried out). Kupri is part of Vitali's (as in Vitali Klitschko's) party, the conglomerate of the Petro Poroshenko Bloc and Vitali's old UDAR Party. They have a very vanilla platform (which I really don't care for). Pretty down the middle party (which I don't care for for a variety of reasons, but in the shitshow that is Ukraine, things could be worse), but if a guy like Usyk has represented Ukraine in the past and is now representing Sorok Sorokov, well, then that's exceptionally problematic for any Ukrainian who considers themselves nationalist in any sense of the word.

So, again, can't read Cyrillic, and until I talk to a few friends in Ukraine and Russia, it's going to be hard for me to ascertain, but do you have any idea if Usyk, a guy who ostensibly was for Crimea not being annexed, is now part of a group which can pretty easily be described in, well, let's say anti-Ukrainian terms (so as not to stoke too many feelings).

calling the politician a piece of shit really has nothing to do with where you stand on the issue of ukraine.

i think the annexation was an act of war, and should be treated as such. russia is clearly the aggressor, and should fuck off. however, giving an athlete shit about his post-fight speech is idiotic. he's a boxer. he just fought a tough guy and took him to school, unifying the belts. nobody gives a shit about his political stance there, everyone is celebrating his achievement. he left politics out of it and embraced the fans, and now some asshole is attacking him for it.

 

[JayE]

calling the politician a piece of shit really has nothing to do with where you stand on the issue of ukraine.

i think the annexation was an act of war, and should be treated as such. russia is clearly the aggressor, and should fuck off. however, giving an athlete shit about his post-fight speech is idiotic. he's a boxer. he just fought a tough guy and took him to school, unifying the belts. nobody gives a shit about his political stance there, everyone is celebrating his achievement. he left politics out of it and embraced the fans, and now some asshole is attacking him for it.

Certainly, and the reactions of every single major Ukrainian politician I can see (most notably Vitali) agree with the sentiment. Vitali had nothing but compliments for Usyk. However, if Usyk is actually Sorok Sorokov, then things get incredibly problematic. Not North America controversial when you fuck up in social media, but meaningfully problematic.

 

[DeJulez]

He shouldve said "If I can change, and you can change.........Everybody can change"

 

[Mr2urbo]

All that Usyk really needed was a clairvoyant to grant him the foresight required to read this guy's mind, a diplomatic aid to advise and prepare his speeches, and a personal secretary to make a checklist of these simple DOs & DON’Ts.

• DON'T fight in Russia regardless of the circumstances
• DO acknowledge Russia as an “aggressor” (enemy) to Ukraine
• DON'T thank the Ukrainian people following the fight (unless you're genuine!)
• DO instruct Russia to: stop the war in Donbass, return Crimea to Ukraine, free the political prisoners, and prisoners of war, and so on...
• DO mention Ukraine at the post-fight press conference
• DON'T thank the Russian people for their support
• DON'T, in any way, embrace your Russian opponent after the fight (no hugs!)
• DON'T allow the Russian national anthem to be played on behalf of your Russian opponent
• DO give a chunk of your purse in taxes to the Ukrainian government after the fight
• DO make a donation to the Ukrainian armed forces after the fight

Difficult? Perhaps. But, not rocket surgery by any stretch.
/czarcasm

And he dominated Gassiev in Russia, imagine if he would have lost?

The douch should have gave Usyk a hero’s welcome from day 1 instead of bitching how Usyk didnt call out Russia, im not political or well schooled in Russian politics, but I know if an athlete uses his platform for political gains and call out Russia, it wouldnt have turned out well for Usyk

 

[Jonny Ninja]

Fair play to usyk. His fight shouldn’t be politicised. He had no other option, and added to that he pretty much embarressed one of Russia’s best fighters in his own manor. The politician is a fckin idiot for what said. Usyks a legend

 

[droolingliver]

The Russian MP didn't help matters, but Usyk has always kept out of political matters as he knows it can lead to problems, exactly like this situation.

He's always been the advocate of not dividing the Slav people, having many friends in Russia. I get the impression he just wants to be regarded as an athlete and that's it.

 

[Badr Hari]

Everyone has always been on his woman's side

 

[ArtemV]

Stupid Ukrainian government gonna Ukraine government. I saw this before his fight, that he was getting talked about a lot for accepting this fight in Moscow. Usyk is a good guy and I am sure he got paid enough to fight anywhere in the world. Although Crimea is ours (as it should have been when USSR collapsed), Ukrainian media and government will take digs at anything to do with Russia.. but for some reason love Belarus, when Belarus are more than friendly with us and would side with Russia. lol.