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Topics: Oleksandr Usyk, Donald Trump, Ukraine, Russia, Boxing
Luke Davies
Topics: Oleksandr Usyk, Donald Trump, Ukraine, Russia, Boxing
Unified heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk has invited U.S. President Donald Trump to live in his house for a week.
Usyk, 38, is arguably pound-for-pound the best boxer on the planet right now, but his personal achievements in the ring are, no doubt, overshadowed by the fact that his homeland, Ukraine, is at war with Russia following full-scale invasion in 2022.
Trump, 78, previously claimed he could end the war if he were elected as President, but has been unable to fulfil his promise and even blamed Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky for starting the war.
"You don't start a war against someone 20 times your size and then hope that people give you some missiles," Trump said at the White House in April.
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Trump added: "Millions of people dead because of three people.
"Let's say Putin number one, let's say Biden, who had no idea what the hell he was doing, number two, and Zelensky."
Speaking to BBC Sport about the hardship his fellow Ukrainians face in the midst of war, Usyk said: “I advise American President Donald Trump to come to Ukraine and live in my house for one week.
"Only one week. I will give him my house. Live please in Ukraine and watch what is going on every night.
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"Every night, there are bombs and flights above my house. Bombs, rocket. Every night. It's enough."
When asked if Trump would change his opinion on the conflict if he did take up his offer, the boxer replied: “I don't know. Maybe he'll understand, maybe he won't.
"Ukrainian people are dying. It's not just military guys, but children, women, grandmothers, grandfathers.
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"For me, it's hard. It's my country. I worry about what happens in my country."
Usyk will return to the ring on July 19 when he defends his WBA (super), WBO and WBC belts in a rematch against Brit Daniel Dubois, whom he previously defeated via stoppage in August 2023.
The 38-year-old has previously received messages from soldiers on the front line and was said to have lifted morale with his two victories against Tyson Fury – in December and May 2024.