September 18, (THEWILL) – Oleksandr Usyk, the undisputed heavyweight world champion, was temporarily detained by law enforcement at Krakow airport in Poland on Wednesday.
The incident prompted swift responses from Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who expressed outrage at the treatment of the national hero.
The 37-year-old champion, who has been supporting Ukraine’s war efforts, was quickly released following what he described as a “misunderstanding”. The boxer took to social media to reassure fans and commend Polish law enforcement for their professionalism. Details surrounding the reasons for his detention remain unclear.
The brief detention sparked diplomatic concerns, with Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, deeming the action “disproportionate and unacceptable”. A video circulating on Polish state media appeared to show Usyk being escorted through the airport in handcuffs, though the authenticity of the video has yet to be independently verified.
Usyk’s earlier victory over Tyson Fury in May solidified his status as the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 2000. His charity, the Usyk Foundation, continues to provide support to Ukrainian forces, delivering humanitarian aid and purchasing ambulances for frontline use.
The boxer’s wife, Yekaterina Usyk, shared a blurred photo of the incident on Instagram, expressing gratitude for her husband’s release. Both Usyk and Polish authorities have emphasised that the situation was resolved quickly, with no further action taken.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
