Report: Oleksandr Usyk Given Permission to Leave Ukraine, Will Train for Joshua Fight

Ukrainian officials granted heavyweight star Oleksandr Usyk permission to leave the country amid the ongoing Russian invasion, according to ESPN's Mike Coppinger.

Coppinger reported that Usyk will now begin training for a rematch with Anthony Joshua to come this summer. 

Usyk won a unanimous decision over Joshua last September. With the victory, the 35-year-old now holds the WBO, IBF and WBA heavyweight titles.

Almost immediately after the result, Usyk spoke in favor of a return bout in his native Ukraine after the first meeting was on Joshua's home soil in London. Joshua also had a rematch clause in his contract, which he didn't take long to invoke.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine obviously meant Usyk's focus would be elsewhere for the time being. It also removed any chance of staging the event in Kiev in the near future.

Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, which is working with Usyk to promote his fights, confirmed to Coppinger in early March that plans for the rematch were on the back burner.

"We don't want the obligation of a rematch to go away," Hearn said. "So, we'll wait as long as Oleksandr Usyk needs during this difficult time for him."

Speaking to CNN's Don Riddell through an interpreter, Usyk was noncommital about his short-term future in boxing because of the conflict.

"I really don't know when I'm going to be stepping back in the ring," he said. "My country and my honor are more important to me than a championship belt."

George Kambosos Jr. was slated to fight Vasiliy Lomachenko in June for the undisputed lightweight championship. On Monday, his promoter, Lou DiBella, confirmed that was now off the table because Lomachenko chose to stay in Ukraine.