Usyk detained by airport police earlier than flying to London for AJ struggle
- Footage on social media showed Usyk being detained by police at an airport
- The Ukrainian heavyweight boxer, 37, was due to fly to London for this weekend
Oleksandr Usyk has been released by police at Krakow airport in Poland after he was filmed being led away in handcuffs – just days before he was due to fly out to London to watch Anthony Joshua face Daniel Dubois at Wembley.
Footage circulating on social media showed the Ukrainian boxer, 37, being led away by men in uniform with his hands behind his back – an incident he has now revealed was a ‘misunderstanding’.
Usyk released a statement shortly after the video did the rounds online, where he insisted ‘all is well’ and thanked the Ukrainian politicians for resolving the issue.
He said: ‘All is well my friends. There was a misunderstanding that was quickly resolved. Thank you to everyone who was worried.
‘Thank you Ukrainian diplomats for your support. And respect to Polish law enforcers, who perform their duties despite height, weight, arm range and regalia.’
Oleksandr Usyk has been released by police at Krakow airport in Poland after he was filmed being led away in handcuffs ahead of flying to London
Usyk has since explained that the incident was a ‘misunderstanding’ and ‘all is well’
Usyk’s friend and camp manager Serge Lapin insisted that everything was OK ahead of the boxer being released and that offered a reason for why the boxer was arrested.
He said: ‘Don’t worry, everything’s fine. The customs control service is neglecting its duties.’
Usyk’s wife, Kate, also posted on Instagram to explain that ‘everything was fine’ and that the boxer would explain the reason for the incident.
She wrote: ‘Everything is ok, everything is fine!!! Alexander will explain everything later!!! nothing to be criminal … Good night to you all!!!’
Usyk was on his way to London ahead of Joshua’s blockbuster bout with Dubois, which is being staged at Wembley Stadium on Saturday night.
The Ukrainian champ is still expected to be there ringside to watch AJ – the main he has beaten twice before.
Usyk was due to fly to London to watch Anthony Joshua (left) take on Daniel Dubois (right)
Usyk released a statement shortly after the video did the rounds online, where he insisted ‘all is well’ and thanked the Ukrainian politicians for resolving the issue
Usyk is due to fight Tyson Fury in a rematch on December 21 after he beat the Gypsy King on points in May to become the undisputed world heavyweight champion, coming back from a rocky few rounds in the middle of the fight to finish strongly.
A rematch has been scheduled for December 21, with the contract for the fight expiring on December 31. The bout has been pushed back to allow the two boxers to recover from their various facial injuries.
Usyk is currently training for the bout and revealed he has learned a lot from his victory over the Brit.
‘Now we have started, we’re going to the training camp,’ he said earlier this month.
Usyk’s camp manager Serge Lapin claimed custom control services ‘neglected their duties’
‘From the last fight with Tyson Fury, I learned a lot about him, a lot of the things that I saw in the fight I didn’t see on TV with all the fights that I saw of Tyson Fury.
‘So we will prepare even better and God willing, with God’s victory, we will show our best shape again. I have incredible motivation. I’m often told that I’ve done everything, what is next, there is nothing further. But we just work every day , every day is a new day.’
