World Boxing Champion Usyk Raises 300-Year-Old Ivan Mazepa's Sabre Over His Head After Defeating Fury
After his victory over Tyson Fury, boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk raised a unique sabre belonging to Hetman Ivan Mazepa, the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine reported on social media.
‘The absolute world boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury in a rematch and raised a unique sabre of Hetman Ivan Mazepa above his head. This gesture not only became a symbol of triumph, but also reminded the world of the Ukrainian people's struggle for freedom, which has been going on for centuries. The seventeenth-century sabre is a unique artefact, an example of Ukrainian weaponry shaped, in part, by the influence of Muslim Eastern culture. Hetman Ivan Mazepa presented the saber to Osavul Savych for his good service. Today it is kept in the Chernihiv Regional Historical Museum named after Tarnovsky,’ the statement said.
As noted, the sabre was delivered to Saudi Arabia in compliance with all regulations and under the supervision of museum experts. Its presentation is an important step in cultural diplomacy.
The press service also reported that there is an inscription along the saber's blade: ‘I put all my trust in you, Mother of God, protect me under your cover!’ On the right side of the blade are two candles, two angels, and a crowned Virgin Mary with a child and a twig. This image of her is called ‘The Fading Flower’. This is not the first time Oleksandr Usyk has addressed the topic of the Cossacks. In July 2022, he appeared at a press conference with his then rival Anthony Joshua as a Cossack, wore a ceremonial ‘hetman’ costume for his first fight against Fury, and in general, he regularly has his hair done in historical Cossack hairstyles and enters the ring to theme music.
The project was organised by the Oleksandr Usyk Charitable Foundation and UKRAINE WOW.
As The Gaze previously reported, a rematch took place in the Saudi capital Riyadh, in which Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk defeated British boxer Tyson Fury for the second time.