Oleksandr Usyk keeps press conference short ahead of Daniel Dubois title clash

Usyk started: “Hi everybody, what’s up? I am grateful for my team, my family, my wife, I love you Katerina, my country and Ukrainian soldiers. Thank you so much.

“My preparation is all good. We do a lot of work, with swimming, we play football, we dancing, yeah. Enough?”

Alex Krassyuk, Usyk’s promoter, brought the press conference to a close soon after but only after the former undisputed world cruiserweight champion was honoured on what is Independence Day of Ukraine.

Despite Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Usyk has continued to live in his home country and has joined the country’s soldiers on the frontline during the past 18 months.

He was given a painting produced by Oleksandr Klymenko after his brief answer two days out from fight night in Poland.

K2 promoter Krassyuk said: “We have a special present for Oleksandr Usyk. His contribution was recognised by the military forces of Ukraine.

“A very special item, the icon of the God Mother painted by the outstanding master Oleksandr Klymenko, whose masterpieces are kept by the Pope, the Swedish King Gustaf and Polish president (Andrzej) Duda.

“The icon is made on the wooden board from the ammunition to the shell that were used by our soldiers defending Bakhmut.”

Usyk and Dubois shared a fist bump after a cordial face-off with both fighting for the first time in 2023.

Dubois was last in action in December at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium where he recovered from a knee injury and being put down three times in the first round to beat South African southpaw Kevin Lerena by stoppage.

Meanwhile, Usyk will step back in the ring again for the first time since he beat Anthony Joshua by split decision in Jeddah last August.

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