“On Saturday night in Riyadh, Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury by unanimous decision to retain his WBO, WBC, and WBA world heavyweight titles. Following the fight, the 37-year-old embraced his opponent before gabbing a mysterious encased saber shrouded in glass against a red backdrop.
The saber once belonged to Ukrainian leader Ivan Mazepa, a 17th-century politician who served as the Hetman of the Zaporizhian Host in charge of Cossack Ukraine from 1687 to 1709.
Mazepa is best remembered for tilting Ukraine’s interests away from Moscow and Russia while angling with Sweden in pursuit of Ukrainian self-determination. With Ukraine entering its third year at war defending its sovereignty from a Russian invasion, Usyk’s gesture speaks volumes.
An inscription underneath the blade reads (translated): “All my hope I place in you, Mother of God, protect me under your mantle!”
The Chernihiv Historical Museum in Ukraine has preserved the saber for many years. A partnership between the Oleksandr Usyk Charitable Foundation and UKRAINE WOW helped bring this moment to fruition.
Museum officials carefully orchestrated the transportation of the blade from Ukraine to Saudi Arabia ahead of the fight under maximum preservation standards, per a press release from Usyk’s team.
“It is an example of Ukrainian weapon craftsmanship, influenced by the cultures of Muslim countries with which Ukraine maintained diplomatic and trade relations. Mazepa gifted the saber to Cossack officer Savich for his excellent service,” he continued.
“Later, Savich’s descendants sold it to Vasyl Tarnovsky, a collector of Ukrainian antiquities. Thus, it became part of our museum’s collection, now representing Ukrainian culture and one of its greatest warriors to the world.”
The win improves Usyk’s record to a perfect 23-0 and hands him a second consecutive win over the previously undefeated Tyson Fury (34-2-1, with both losses coming to Usyk).
The Ukranian originally captured the heavyweight title with a win via unanimous decision against Anthony Joshua in 2021. While Usyk has no confirmed fight on the horizon – there will be no Usyk vs Fury III – he may face a challenge from Daniel Dubois.
Dubois (22-2) stormed the ring following the match and called for a rematch of the pair’s bout from 2023. “I want my revenge! I want my revenge, Usyk,” he said.” [The Mirror]
Lord Byron’s famoud poem devoted to Ukrainian Hetman Mazeppa >
Voltaire’s description of Hetman Mazeppa >
