KYIV: Reigning world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has left war-torn Ukraine to begin his preparation for a rematch with Britain’s Anthony Joshua, his manager told AFP on Friday.
The 35-year-old holder of the WBA, IBF and WBO belts came back to Ukraine to defend his family as soon as Russia invaded his home country on February 24.
“He went abroad to prepare for the rematch,” Usyk’s Kyiv-based manager, Yaroslav Lordkipanidze, told AFP by phone.
He said that Usyk left “several days ago,” without providing further details of his current whereabouts.
Usyk defeated then champion Joshua last September by a unanimous decision in front of a home crowd in London.
Joshua immediately voiced his readiness to face Usyk again, in a bout that might take place as early as this summer.
Usyk became one of several top Ukrainian sports people who expressed their intention to resist Russian invasion of their country.
The boxer said he was “defending my home, my wife, my children, my close ones” in an interview with CNN from the basement of his home in the Kyiv area, days after Russia’s President Vladimir Putin launched the invasion.
Former world lightweight champion and two-time Olympic gold medallist Vasiliy Lomachenko has also returned home to help defend the town of Belgorod-Dnistrovsky near the city of Odessa.
Boxing champion Usyk leaves Ukraine for Joshua rematch preparation
https://arab.news/vcb6d
Boxing champion Usyk leaves Ukraine for Joshua rematch preparation
- The 35-year-old holder of the WBA, IBF and WBO belts came back to Ukraine to defend his family as soon as Russia invaded his country
- "He went abroad to prepare for the rematch," Usyk's Kyiv-based manager told AFP by phone
Local golfers to compete alongside world's best at Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship
- Bahraini talent secure places through national qualifying route as game’s growth continues in the Kingdom
BAHRAIN: Three Bahraini golfers will tee off alongside DP World Tour stars at the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship, which takes place from Jan. 29 to Feb. 1, having earned their places through the Kingdom's national qualifying pathway.
Ahmed Al-Zayed, Khalifa Al-Maraisi and Ali Mohamed Al-Kowari earned their places through the Kingdom’s qualifying pathway and will represent Bahrain at the Royal Golf Club in the third edition of the tournament, held under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
They will be joined by England's Tom Sloman, who earned a professional invitation as winner of the King Hamad Trophy, and Malaysia's Zubair Firdaus, champion of the Bahrain Amateur Open.
The local qualifiers will compete alongside a stellar field that includes three-time Major Champion Padraig Harrington, current Race to Dubai leader Jayden Schaper, past winner Dylan Frittelli, and 2025 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Martin Couvra.
The Bahraini trio secured their spots through different routes. Al-Zayed was the best Bahraini finisher at the King Hamad Trophy, Al-Maraisi topped the Bahrain Golf Association rankings in 2025, and Al-Kowari came through the National Team Qualifying Tournament.
For Al-Zayed, who carries a +2.4 handicap, it marks a proud return to the championship.
“I’m so proud to be playing in this championship,” he said. “This is my second time participating in this event. I would like to thank Bapco Energies for organizing the biggest event in the country and the Bahrain Golf Association for giving national team players the chance to participate. I’m focused on representing my country in the best way and looking forward to playing with the best tour players to gain more experience.”
Al-Kowari, also playing off +2.4, will make his second consecutive appearance at the tournament after a hard-fought qualifying campaign.
“I'm very happy to play in this great tournament again,” he said. “It wasn't easy to get the spot, but we did it eventually. We played four days for the national team qualifier — it was really, really windy — but in the end we did it. I had some really good rounds and got the spot.”
The qualifying pathway highlights how hosting the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship is helping to develop the game across the Kingdom, providing local players with experience of competing at the highest level.
The tournament follows the Dubai Invitational and Hero Dubai Desert Classic — the first Rolex Series event of the season — as part of the DP World Tour's International Swing and features a prize fund of $2.75 million.
