OLEKSANDR USYK was detained at an airport after attempting to defend a friend who was denied boarding – his team said.
Shock footage surfaced on Tuesday night showing the undefeated boxing champion being led away in cuffs by officers.
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But Usyk, his wife and even Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky spoke out to clarify it was a misunderstanding.
Now the boxing star’s head of PR Mykhailo Krasiuk has given their side of the story in full.
Krasiuk posted: “Ok Google, that was all about our team member, who brought @usykaafrom Kyiv by car (and it was not Lapin, as reported by some media).
“He was very tired after 14h driving and slept standing up, literally. Ryanair employees didn’t let him on the plane.
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“Usyk, who was already on board, returned to the gate and tried to defend our friend, like always does.
“Meanwhile the police appeared, maybe the champ looked so dangerous that should have been handcuffed,
“(I don’t know). Anyway, everything was sorted out briefly. Thanks for your support.”
Usyk is believed to have been set to travel to London, where he will be a special guest for Anthony Joshua’s Wembley fight with Daniel Dubois.
And he was quick to speak out online after being released by airport security.
Usyk wrote: “All is well my friends. There was a misunderstanding that was quickly resolved.
“Thank you to everyone who was worried. Thank you Ukrainian diplomats for your support.
“And respect to Polish law enforcers, who perform their duties despite height, weight, arm range and regalia.”
President Zelensky, on Telegram, added: “Talked on the phone with Oleksandr Usyk when he was detained.
“I was outraged by this attitude towards our citizen and champion.
“He instructed the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andriy Sibiza and the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Ihor Klymenko to immediately find out all the details of the incident at the Krakow airport.
“As soon as I was informed that everything is fine, our champion was released and no one is detaining him anymore.”
USYK IN AIRPORT DRAMA
By Wally Downes Jr
OLEKSANDR USYK was roared on to victory in the Undisputed clash with Tyson Fury by everybody outside Russia and Morecambe.
The 37-year-old Ukraine icon has spend time on his nation’s frontline supporting underdog soldiers against Putin’s savages
And he only agreed to carrying on professional fighting when his conscripted compatriots begged him to.
He beat Daniel Dubois in a Wroclaw stadium full of Ukraineans who had escaped there to safety.
And he recently visited London to help the Ukraine embassy send a convoy of vehicles to help his battered brothers and sisters.
He is due back in our capital to be ringside for twice-dominated Anthony Joshua taking on Dubois.
And he would have gotten a huge cheer from all the 96,000 fans for his courage in and outside of the ring.
It seems highly unlikely he has been detained for anything related to his behaviour.
And much more likely to go with strict travelling rules enforced around the Eastern European regions.
The gap-toothed southpaw genius has hated leaving his four children and his wife so would not have been on a lads’ beano with too many ales at the airport Wetherspoons.
So let’s hope a modern-day hero – of Olympic gold and cruiser and heavyweight undisputed glory – is safely in Wembley or back home soon.
Usyk, 37, is coming off the biggest win of his career after beating Tyson Fury, 36, to become undisputed champion.
But his reign as the heavyweight division’s first four-belt undisputed champion did not last long.
Usyk was forced to vacate the IBF belt to proceed with his December 21 rematch against Fury back in Saudi Arabia.
Dubois, 26, instead inherited the title after being elevated from interim champ and makes his first defence against Joshua, 34.
And Usyk is due into the capital to watch Joshua’s all-British showdown against Dubois on Saturday.
And the Ukrainian hero was facing an awkward reunion with Fury as both were scheduled at a fan event at BoxPark Wembley.
Both men will take part in meet and greets with fans at what has been billed as the “official pre-fight party” just hours before the bout.