As hundreds of civilians continue to flee war-ravaged Ukrainian cities, the country’s renowned boxing champions have said they will take up arms in the fight against Russia.
Former world heavyweight champion brothers Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, now mayor of the city Kyivare among the Ukrainian sports heroes who have vowed to join the battle to defend their homeland.
They are joined by Ukrainian boxing hero Vasyl Lomachenko, 34, who returned home and enlisted in the Territorial Army to help protect his people from Russian soldiers, and the world heavyweight boxing champion. Oleksandr Usyk.
Their decision to join the ongoing battle came after a captured Russian commander said his doubts about the war were strengthened when he saw two of his favorite boxers – Oleksandr Usyk and Vasily Lomachenko – agree to fight on the side of the resistance.
Residents of Irpin flee heavy fighting across a destroyed bridge as Russian troops enter the city
Earlier today, horrific footage exposed the refugee crisis in Ukraine as Russia continues to shell civilians trying to flee bomb-ravaged cities after Kyiv rejected Moscow’s offer to open ‘humanitarian corridors’ after it emerged some routes led directly into its territory. .
Hundreds of civilians have been photographed trying to flee the town of Irpen, west of Kyiv, which has been the site of heavy Russian bombing in recent days. They were helped to cross the partially destroyed bridge by the Ukrainian military, who blew it up. days earlier to slow down the Russian advance
This came after Ukraine rejected a Russian offer to open “humanitarian corridors” from the besieged cities of Sumy, Mariupol, Kharkiv and Kyiv, which had been under artillery fire for several days, and Mariupol was cut off from electricity and water supplies because the routes led either to the territory of Russia or its ally, Belarus.
Ukrainian boxers join the fight against Putin
Vitaliy Klichko
Known as Dr. Ironfist, Vitali Klitschko won his first twenty-four fights either by knockout or technical knockout and also won three world heavyweight boxing championships.
Vitali Klitschko became mayor of Kyiv after a successful heavyweight boxing career.
Born in Belovodskoye, Kyrgyzstan in 1971, Klitschko entered the world of professional boxing in 1996.
Also known as Dr. Ironfist, Vitali won his first 24 fights either via knockout or TKO, and also won three world heavyweight boxing championships.
After retiring from boxing, Vitaliy confirmed that he would take part in the presidential elections in Ukraine in 2014, but later announced that he had changed his mind and would run for mayor of Kyiv instead.
He won the mayoral election with nearly 60 percent of the vote and was sworn in as mayor in June 2014.
This month, Vitaliy and his brother Volodymyr, who is also a former world heavyweight boxing champion, said they were “ready to die” for Ukraine.
He told CNN: “We are not interested in how strong the Russian army is, we are ready to fight. And we are ready to die for our native country and for our families, because this is our home. This is our future and someone wants to come to our house and steal our future from us.”
Vitaliy also welcomed the “amazing” and “huge patriotic movement” of Ukrainians who were left to fight the Russians when “old men, doctors and actors” took up arms to create a makeshift army.
He added: “We are left in front of one of the strongest armies in the world. The desire to be independent is a top priority for us. And we protect our families, our city, our country and our future.
“Now there is a huge patriotic movement. Old people, can you imagine? Doctors, actors, actors from the theater, many professions that never had the hope of fighting, keeping weapons.
“But now they are coming towards us, they are ready for battle. It’s amazing”.
When asked if he would fight against the invaders, 50-year-old Vitaly replied: “I have no other choice. I have to do it. I will fight. I believe in Ukraine. I believe in my country and I believe in my people.”
Mayor of Kyiv since 2014, continued: “In one area from here, my daughter goes to school. It was love, love for my city, my home, my family, my neighbors, my daughter that brought me here, that I came up with this initiative and now I take part in this territorial defense.
“I can’t stand still and I won’t. Therefore, I signed up for the territorial defense of the country and the city.
Vladimir Klichko
Former Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko began to practice amateur boxing at the Brovary School of Olympic Reserve, and then became a coach of the Polish boxing club Gvardiya Warsaw.
Former Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko, younger brother of Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko, was born in Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan, in 1976.
In the 1980s, he began to practice amateur boxing at the Brovary School of Olympic Reserve, and then became a coach of the Polish boxing club Gvardiya Warsaw.
In 1995, he won the gold medal at the Military Championships in Italy and then went on to win the heavyweight gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.
In 2017, Vladimir, who fought 29 world title fights, announced that he was retiring from the sport.
Earlier this year, he and his brother called on allies for more support amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The brothers thanked the governments that provided international aid, but said basic supplies such as food and water were needed, as well as more weapons.
In a joint interview with BBC News, Vladimir said: “There is never enough. The demand is huge, because the infrastructure is partially destroyed by the shelling that takes place across the country in different cities.
“This is absolutely not enough, and we definitely need support and assistance – financial support, military equipment support, medical support.”
The Klitschko brothers also released a joint video message in Russian, Ukrainian and English calling on European neighbors to support Ukraine.
In the video, Volodymyr said: “I call on all international partners to watch this tragedy that is happening today in Ukraine.
“And this senseless war in which there will be no winners, only losers. I just want to tell you that we must remain united against this aggression, against Russian aggression.
“Don’t let this continue in Ukraine, don’t let this happen in Europe and eventually the world. Together we are strong, support Ukraine, thank you.”
Vasily Lomachenko
Ukrainian boxing hero Vasily Lomachenko became the world boxing champion in three weight categories.
Lomachenko (left) is also enlisted in the Ukrainian Territorial Army to fight Russia.
Ukrainian boxing hero Vasily Lomachenko also returned home and signed up for the territorial army to help protect his people from Russian soldiers.
It was originally reported that the 34-year-old boxer, who was a world boxing champion in three different weight divisions, left for Greece after the Russian invasion but has now returned to join the fight.
Reposting a message from local mayor Vitaliy Grazhdan, Lomachenko shared a photo on his Facebook page of himself wearing a military uniform.
The message said: “The Belgorod-Dnestrovsky battalion of territorial defense has been formed and armed. Boxer Vasily Lomachenko on defense.
According to reports, the boxing legend’s journey back to Ukraine from Greece was long and confusing.
It is said that he first had to travel to Bucharest in Romania before heading to Ukraine to reach his hometown of Odessa.
Born in 1998, Lomachenko first took up gymnastics before moving on to boxing gloves.
In 2007, he won silver at the 2007 World Championships in Chicago and then won gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
He won his second consecutive gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics.
Prior to his professional boxing career, Lomachenko also competed in the Lightweight division of the World Series of Boxing (WSB).
Oleksandr Usyk
Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk was in talks with Anthony Joshua for a rematch after the Ukrainian stripped him of his IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO heavyweight titles last year, but returned to Kyiv as a result of the Russian invasion.
Oleksandr Usyk is enrolled in the Kiev Territorial Defense after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk enlisted in the Kiev Territorial Defense after the Russian invasion.
Usyk was in talks with Anthony Joshua for a rematch after the Ukrainian stripped him of his IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO heavyweight titles last year.
However, as a result of the devastating Russian invasion of his homeland, Usyk returned to Kyiv to take up arms and defend his country.
After a sudden change in circumstances, Usyk said he didn’t know what was in store for him in the sport.
“I really don’t know when I’ll be in the ring again,” Usyk told CNN. “My country and my honor are more important to me than the championship belt.”
After Vladimir Putin’s attack on Ukraine, Usyk quickly faced accusations that he traveled to the UK to avoid the fighting, which he quickly denied by flying to Warsaw, Poland (due to Ukrainian airports being bombarded by Russian missiles). before driving nearly 500 miles back. home and across the border to Kyiv.
Hours later, Usyk was photographed on his Instagram page wielding a large machine gun before announcing that he had joined the Kiev Territorial Defense in a heroic attempt to defend his native Ukraine.
“Dear Ukraine and dear Ukrainians, some wrote about my escape. It’s not true, I had a business trip, and now I’m back. I’m at home, he said.
“Friends, we need to unite together and overcome this, because we are facing exceptional difficulties.
“I am overwhelmed with emotions, and I am very worried for my country and for our people. Friends, we must stop this war, and we must do it together.”