Boxing heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk confessed to sporting a counterfeit Rolex purchased for just £80 in Turkey, despite banking an eye-watering £86 million for his recent rematch with Tyson Fury. The Ukrainian sensation, who secured his position as the world’s premier heavyweight with a unanimous decision triumph over Fury in Saudi Arabia, flaunts a mock timepiece rather than original.
Shunning luxury, Usyk admitted to purchasing the imitation during a training stint in Turkey. “I was boasting a little and showed the cameraman my watch. It’s a Chinese Rolex,” he disclosed in an interview shared by Home of Fight.
Despite raking in an estimated £30m from his initial bout with Fury in 2023, he couldn’t resist the allure of a seaside bargain: “I was in Turkey for training and saw guys selling Rolexes on the beach. I thought if I bought one, no one would guess that it was a fake. So I bought it for $100 (£80).”
Unconventional in his disregard for opulence, especially in contrast to figures like Floyd Mayweather who parade their riches, Usyk stands out. His fortune is placed at roughly £45m, yet this titan of the ring directs his efforts towards humanitarian aid through the Usyk Foundation, supporting Ukrainian forces and nationals amidst the conflict with Russia.
Having had to evacuate their home due to the invasion, Usyk and his family have faced direct personal hardship, with his children experiencing the terror of war.
He said: “My children are asking: ‘Daddy, why do they want to kill us?’
“I don’t know how to answer that. My family are not in Ukraine now but a lot of people I know and a lot of my close friends are inside the country.
“I am in touch with them every day, I am asking them for updates. I didn’t want to leave the country. I want to live there, still. Straight after the fight I will go back to Ukraine.”
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