Usyk Sends Powerful 'Free Azovstal Defenders' Message at Weigh-In Ceremony

Ukrainian heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk, who holds the WBA, WBC, WBO, and IBO titles, made a powerful statement during the weigh-in ceremony ahead of his rematch with UK’s Tyson Fury on December 20.

Usyk unfurled a flag with the message “Free Azovstal Defenders” to raise awareness of Ukrainian defenders held in Russian captivity.

The Ukrainian heavyweight champion weighed in at a career-high 102.5 kg, 1 kg more than his weight in their first fight. Tyson Fury, meanwhile, weighed in at 127.4 kg, nearly 10 kg heavier than his previous result.

The Usyk–Fury rematch for the unified heavyweight boxing title will take place at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the same venue as their first fight, on the night of Saturday to Sunday, December 22. All of Usyk’s titles will be on the line in this bout.

Previously, the organizers of the highly anticipated bout in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, have finalized the schedule for media events leading up to the fight between Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk and Britain's Tyson Fury, according to DAZN.

On December 11, a court in Russian-occupied Donetsk sentenced 9 Ukrainian servicemen to severe prison terms ranging from 24 years to life imprisonment.