Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: Oleksander Usyk during their fighter training session ahead of this weekend’s fight in Jeddah. 16 August 2022 Photo by Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Not even the sport’s heavyweight king is safe from the long arm of the law.
Fortunately, Oleksandr Usyk is free and clear after being briefly detained by customs police at Kraków John Paul II International Airport in Krakow, Poland. A specific reason was never given for the incident, but his entire team confirmed it was a mix-up.
“(Thank) God everything is fine,” Yekaterina Usyk, Oleksandr’s wife, informed her social media followers. “No one has been arrested. Usyk is free. A misunderstanding.”
The sport’s top pound-for-pound king took to social media to address the matter upon his release.
“Dear friends. A misunderstanding occurred,” Usyk said on his verified Instagram and X channels. “It was resolved quickly. Thank you to everyone who became concerned.”
Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs) was on his way to London to attend the Daniel Dubois-Anthony Joshua IBF heavyweight title fight this weekend. He was stopped by Krakow airport officials for unknown reasons before being placed in handcuffs.
Authorities and Usyk himself confirmed that the Ukrainian southpaw was never arrested. He was held until authorities at the home could meet with Polish law enforcement to solve the case.
“I spoke with Oleksandr Usyk on the phone after he was detained,” said the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “I was disappointed by this attitude towards our citizen and champion. 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 Kraków Airport.
“Now, all is well, our champion is released. He is no longer detained. In the photo he is with our consul general in Kraków just after he was released.”
I spoke to Oleksandr Usyk on the phone after he was detained.
I was disappointed by this attitude towards our citizen and champion.
I instructed the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, and the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Ihor Klymenko, to … pic.twitter.com/LNKcH0OupR
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Volodymyr Zelensky (@ZelenskyyUa) September 17, 2024
Usyk became the first fully unified heavyweight champion of the 21St century following his May 18 split decision victory over Tyson Fury (34-1-1, 24 KOs). The victory ended a lucrative rematch for the 37-year-old southpaw and a four-month-and-running-celebration by famous X personality Nadim Haddad.
The feat also saw Usyk join Evander Holyfield as the sport’s only two fighters to hold undisputed cruiserweight and heavyweight championships. Usyk’s reign was immediately interrupted when he was forced to vacate the IBF belt. The move upgraded Dubois (21-2, 19 KOs) to full IBF interim title, a belt he earned in a June 1 stoppage win over Filip Hrgovic.
Dubois will now defend against Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs) on Saturday at Wembley Stadium in London.
Usyk is a combined 3-0 against the two.
He defeated Joshua by unanimous decision to win the WBA, IBF and WBO belts in North London in September 2021. The feat was repeated, albeit in a split decision in their August 2022 rematch in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Usyk earned the Ring Heavyweight Championship with the win.
One year later, Usyk scored a ninth-round knockout of London’s Dubois last August 26 in Wroclaw, Poland. The win paved the way to then face and defeat Fury to collect the WBC belt in Riyadh.
Usyk and Fury will return to Riyadh for their highly anticipated rematch on December 21.
