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Fri, Nov 22, 2024 | Jumada al-Awwal 21, 1446 | DXB
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Heavyweight boxing champ Oleksandr Usyk signs professional contract with Ukrainian soccer club Polissya
WBA, IBF and WBO world champion impressed club officials when he came on as a substitute in a friendly last year
Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk connects with a viscious left to the jaw of Britain's Anthony Joshua,during their world heavyweight title fight in Saudi Arabia on Aug. 21, 2022. Usyk won on a split points decision. - AP
Ukrainian soccer club Polissya Zhytomyr's latest signing packs a real punch.
Polissya says unbeaten heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk will play for the top-tier team for one season after impressing in training.
In February 2022, Usyk came on as a sub for Polissya during their winter break 2-1 friendly win over Veres.
The 36-year-old Usyk’s “attitude to training is a great example for the Polissya team,” club president Gennadiy Butkevich said Thursday on the club website, adding that it was the boxer’s love of soccer that made their collaboration possible.
“His childhood goal, to play senior football, will come true,” Butkevich said, though it is not clear how much the Ukrainian fighter will play.
Usyk's footballing venture will not affect his boxing career. - Reuters
Polissya initially announced the agreement on Wednesday, when it said Usyk will wear the No. 17.
Usyk, a formidable boxer with a 20-0 record (13 knockouts), holds the WBA, WBO and IBF belts after beating Anthony Joshua in 2021 and then defending them against the British fighter in their rematch in Saudi Arabia in August last year.
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Usyk is set to defend the belts against Daniel Dubois on Aug. 26 at Tarczynski Arena in Wroclaw, Poland. British fighter Dubois is the WBA mandatory challenger.
Usyk had hoped to fight Tyson Fury but negotiations broke down.
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