Tyson Fury vows to defend UK against Russia amid Ukraine crisis: 'I'll be first in line for job'
Tyson Fury declared that he and his father will join the frontline to defend Ukraine “if England gets involved”. The professional boxer was speaking at a press conference ahead of his showdown next month against Dillian Whyte, who was also supposed to be at the press conference but didn’t show up. Upon asking about the Ukrainian boxer and his former opponent Wladimir Klitschko and his brother Vitali joining the forces to defend Ukraine with fellow boxer Oleksandr Usyk, Fury said “[It's] fantastic. I'll be the first one to join up if England get involved, or America. I'll be first in line for the job, my dad will as well and all the boys. We'll all be signing up to defend - that's what I've got to say. I think if you're from that country, living there - defend her. Love your woman and fight for your country, that’s what I say"
Klitschko, who boasts of an 11-year undefeated run in the ring that was put to an end by Fury, posted a video on Instagram on Saturday, February 26, making an urgent appeal to the world to stop Russian aggression and the world’s inaction on the matter at hand. Klitschko also revealed the state of civilians that are being targeted by Russian forces two days into the war right in the heart of Europe.
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Tyson Fury praises Wladimir Klitschko, Vitali Klitschko and Oleksandr Usyk for defending Ukraine from Vladimir Putin's invasion by Russia: "I'll be the first one to join up if England get involved."
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) March 1, 2022
[📽️ @BTSportBoxing] pic.twitter.com/w479oaJw4g
The 45-year-old, who is also the brother of Vitali, the mayor of Kyiv that is currently in combat, said "I'm Wladimir Klitschko, and I'm addressing the entire world to stop this war that Russia has started. Just today, civilians were shot by the rockets, with special operations, civilians getting killed. And it's happening in the heart of Europe. There is no time to wait because that's going to lead to a humanitarian catastrophe.”
He ended the video in an urgent appeal to “act now” addressing the world, "You need to act now to stop Russian aggression with anything you can have now. In an hour, or tomorrow, is going to be too late. Please, get into action now. Don't wait. Act now. Stop this war."
WBA champion Oleksandr Usyk also put his career on hold to show up for his homeland. In an Instagram video, the 35-year-old IBF champ said, “Dear Ukraine and dear Ukrainians, some wrote about me running away. Not true, I had a work trip and now I'm back. I'm home. Friends, we need to unite together and overcome this, because we are faced with exceptional difficulties. I'm very overcome with emotions and I'm very concerned for my country and for our people. Friends, we must stop this war and we must do it together."