Usyk said that he is preparing for the upcoming fight against Joshua with thoughts about his compatriots defending Ukraine from Russian invaders.

The boxer noted that many Ukrainians, including soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, send him messages - they support and inspire him to win. So Alexander is determined to live up to their expectations and bring joy to his people..

" I do all this for my country. Every day I thank God in prayer that I woke up, and I pray for my country, it is very difficult when you understand what is happening there.

Many send me messages. My friends who are fighting are ordinary Ukrainians. They support me and inspire me by saying: " We believe in your victory. Please us with your victory,"

Alexander also said that the Ukrainian military asked him to leave his homeland during the war with the Russian Federation in order to prepare for revenge from Joshua.

\? They supported me. They asked me to make a decision to leave the country and agree to revenge,"

When asked how the Ukrainians would react if he beat Joshua for the second time, Oleksandr answered very eloquently.

\? Not " My people will rejoice, and I will be with them,"

Usyk vs Joshua will take place on August 20 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.. On the eve of the official announcement of revenge between the Ukrainian and the British.

Recall that on the night of September 26, 2021, Usyk defeated Joshua in London. by unanimous decision - 117-112, 116-112 and 115-113, and won the IBF, WBO, WBA and IBO heavyweight titles. After that, the Briton activated the option of revenge, prescribed in the contract for the first fight..

So in the rematch, all the titles that the Ukrainian took away from the Brit last year will be at stake..

The 35-year-old Usyk has 19 wins (13 by knockout) in 19 fights. He spent three of them in the heavyweight division.. Before that, Alexander became the absolute world champion in the cruiserweight (weight category up to 90.7 kg), having won all four of the most prestigious belts there..

32-year-old Joshua has 24 wins (22 by KO) and two losses.. For the first time, AJ lost in June 2019 to Andy Ruiz, but in December of the same year he defeated the Mexican in a rematch and regained his titles.