The war in Ukraine that followed the Russian invasion in February 2022 ensured this.
Almost a year after Usyk won the British title in London, Usyk gained another dimension when he faced Anthony Joshua in Jeddah in August of the same year.
“In the ninth round, I realized that if I fell now, the spirits of the warriors who defend our country would also fall,” he told AFP news agency.
“I didn't box for myself, I boxed for everyone who defends the country.”
Eighteen months after that battle, Russia is still at war with Ukraine, adding fuel to the Usyk fire.
In some ways, this signals a change in perception of the 37-year-old, who also defeated Daniel Dubois in Poland last August.
Born in the Crimean town of Simferopol, he was criticized by many Ukrainians over Russia's 2014 annexation of the peninsula and for saying Russians and Ukrainians were the same people.
But since the Russian invasion in 2022, the tone has changed, with promoter Alexander Krasyuk saying Usyk is “a true inspiration for Ukraine and for the fighters on the front lines.”
“When he speaks, these words give courage to the Ukrainian people and soldiers to fight against the enemy,” Krasyuk told Provox TV last August.
“Usyk isn't fighting for himself anymore.”
Usyk felt close to the war. Immediately after the invasion, he returned to Kiev and spent time on patrol.
Then former teammate Oleksiy Dzhankivsky was shot dead by Russian troops.
However, he was persuaded to return to the ring and fight the war in a more public arena.
“The people of the Armed Forces prepared and fought to help the Motherland on the international stage, talked about it and convinced us that it was necessary to give Ukraine an opportunity to restore the Motherland,” he said.
