World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Oleksandr Usyk is now a professional football player with a Ukrainian club.
The WBA, WBC, WBO, and IBF boxing Champion has signed for Ukrainian elite division side FC Polissya in the Ukrainian Premier League.
Known for his undefeated and triumphant trail in the boxing ring, Usyk is a big football fan aside from his boxing career and has taken his passion for the round leather game a step further.
FC Polissya, a Ukrainian Premier League side, confirmed Oleksandr Usyk has signed a contract to join the club as a professional footballer and has been issued with jersey number 17.
Usyk’s decision to sign a professional contract with FC Polissya is not coming as a surprise. In 2022, the boxing legend downed his boxing gloves and took up football boots to make his football debut for FC Polissya.
Usyk played for only 15 minutes on his soccer debut and impressed the management of the club with his energetic sprint, speed, positioning skills, and threats in the final third.
He also showed good dribbling skills and teamwork, playing as an attacker from the right wing and was down-to-earth great with the ball at his feet. Usyk made the debut when FC Polissya were playing in Ukrainian second division.
Afte his debut, he promised to return to the club on a professional contract as a full time professional player when they gain promotion to the Ukrainian Premier League.
While his words sounded cosmetic but unfeasible to many, the 46-year-old has now fulfilled his promise and shock his fans as FC Polissya revealed he has signed a professional contract with the club following the club’s promotion to the Ukrainian Premier League.
Details of Oleksandr Usyk’s contract with FC Polissya is yet to be revealed but the club have confirmed Usyk has signed the contract and will play as a striker with jersey number 17.
“The president of the club Hennadiy Butkevich and Oleksandr Usyk concluded an official agreement on football cooperation for one year. Usyk will perform under number 17. Expect other details of the contract later,” FC Polissya statement reads.
How will Oleksandr Usyk combine his boxing career with football?
According to reports, Oleksandr Usyk will not immediately start for FC Polissya. Marca reports he signed a contract for the next season. This will enable him to execute his upcoming fight against Daniel Dubois on August 26. After the fight against Dubois, Usyk will return to training with his teammates at FC Polissya and will immediately be drafted into the starting lineup to play as a striker for the club.
Interestingly, the gypsy king will be donning his new FC Polissya jersey while training ahead of the fight with Dubois. The club have even added his nickname, ‘The Cat,’ on the back of the jersey.
Oleksandr Usyk
Oleksandr Oleksandrovych Usyk is a Ukrainian heavyweight and cruiserweight boxing champion.
Regarded as one of the greatest boxers in the world, Oleksandr Usyk became a professional boxer at age 26 in 2013 and has gone on to dominate the sports winning major tittles.
In 2021, he became the World Heavyweight Champion after defeating a Nigerian British boxer Anthony Joshua. He is the fourth professional boxer to hold the WBA, WBO, WBC, and IBF boxing titles at the same time.
ESPN ranks Usyk as the best Heavyweight boxing champion. He has recorded 20 professional fights, winning all, including 13 KOs.
