Undisputed world heavyweight champion says he doesn’t want to be seen as an icon, he simply wants to fight better to win the rematch on Saturday

Oleksandr Usyk, the world heavyweight champion, carries himself with such a light and humorous touch that it is easy to forget the burden of responsibility bearing down on him. As Ukraine’s war against Russia grinds on, Usyk knows that millions of people are relying on him to spread a rare flurry of good news when he defends his world titles against Tyson Fury late on Saturday night in Riyadh.

Their first fight, in May, which Usyk won on a split decision, produced a battle for the ages, but Usyk has to be prompted gently to discuss the impact of his achievements on Ukraine’s morale. “Of course I was speaking with Ukrainian soldiers, with my friends who are now protecting my country, about the fight,” Usyk says. “I will tell you one story. There is the frontline where the fighting is taking place. And the guys on the second line, they have special communications connecting them to the frontline of the battlefield. They have nicknames like ‘Rocket’.”