OLEKSANDR USYK launched a verbal tirade against Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Oleksandr Usyk: The Ukrainian made a stand against Vladimir Putin (Image: AFP)

Oleksandr Usyk has blasted Vladimir Putin as a “very weak” character as he defiantly stood up against the Russian president. The boxer passionately spoke out in support of his native Ukraine and called out Putin while celebrating his victory over Anthony Joshua in their rematch to defend the unified WBO, WBA and IBF heavyweight titles, writes Joe Krishnan for the Express.

The 35-year-old, who after challenged heavyweight hero Tyson Fury to fight him for his treble of titles, won by split decision against Joshua after chipping away at the Briton, following on from his victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium 11 months ago.

Usyk had been keen to use the publicity from the bout to raise awareness about the ongoing situation in Ukraine as the conflict surges past the six-month mark, and he was seen holding aloft his country’s flag in the ring after the split decision was announced.

And when he was given the chance to speak, Usyk did not hold back, taking aim at Putin by calling him the Russian president “very weak”, insisting that Putin’s apparent display of strength is all for show.

“Everything he shows is just to show that he’s strong, but he’s not,” he said, wearing blue and yellow shorts to mark the colours of the Ukraine flag. “Otherwise he wouldn’t show how strong, how big he is. In reality, he is very weak.

Oleksandr Usyk: The 35-year-old beat Joshua for a second time in the space of a year (Image: AFP)

It was a strange incident for Joshua, who is usually a smooth operator and a calm figure inside the ring. But a bizarre speech only highlighted how the 32-year-old had struggled to keep a lid on his emotions on a warm night in Saudi Arabia.

“If you knew my story you would understand the passion,” he said. “I ain’t no amateur boxer from five years old that was an elite prospect from youth. I was going to jail, I got bail and I started training my arse off, I wanted to be able to fight.”

“I’m not a 12-round fighter, look at me, I’m a new breed of heavyweights,” Joshua continued. “Mike Tyson, Sonny Liston, Jack Dempsey, ‘you don’t throw combinations like Rocky Marciano’, I’m 18 stone, I’m heavy, it’s hard work.”

However, he did play some part in helping Usyk get the message out by raising the Ukraine flag with him and praising his opponent, adding: “This guy here is a phenomenal talent. We’re going to cheer for him three times.”

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