Oleksandr Usyk fell to his knees once the final bell sounded Dec. 21 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
It was then that what felt like the weight of the world was lifted from the unified heavyweight champion’s broad shoulders. With the war in his homeland on his mind and Tyson Fury finally off of it, a thankful Usyk realized it was finally time to head home to his wife and two sons.
The 37-year-old Usyk returned to Ukraine with his unblemished record intact and all of boxing’s recognized championships, except the IBF belt he relinquished after he defeated Fury the first time May 18 at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.