Oleksandr Usyk is set to face Rico Verhoeven on Saturday night at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. While his opponent might be a new name in the boxing circles, Usyk has already established himself as the greatest of this generation. 

So, there’s barely anyone who doesn’t know the smaller details of his life. But in case you don’t, there’s plenty of information available about ‘The Cat.’ So, here’s everything you need to know about Usyk’s ethnicity, religion, and nationality before his fight with the Dutch kickboxing great. 

Where is Oleksandr Usyk from, and what is Oleksandr Usyk’s nationality?

The former two-division undisputed champion was born on January 17, 1987, in Simferopol, Crimean Oblast, which was part of the Ukrainian SSR in the former Soviet Union at the time. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, his family experienced financial hardship. In 1993, they moved to Rybotyn—a small village in northern Ukraine where his mother was born—so the family could get by.

Usyk attended local schools there and spent considerable time in the hospital recovering from severe pneumonia. The 39-year-old went on to compete in the Olympics, representing his country, further cementing his Ukrainian nationality. And if you are curious, he won gold in the 2012 Olympics.

What is Oleksandr Usyk’s ethnicity?

Usyk’s parents, Oleksandr Anatoliyovych Usyk and Nadiya Petrovna Usyk, were originally from northern Ukraine, giving Usyk a Slavic ethnic background and a strong Ukrainian identity. Given his background, it’s no surprise that Usyk speaks Ukrainian—a Slavic language that shares its roots with Russian.

Both languages use the Cyrillic alphabet, although each features some unique letters. Like many Ukrainians, Usyk is also fluent in Russian, which is widely understood and spoken throughout the country. Usyk’s language game doesn’t stop with just Ukrainian and Russian.

When this former Olympic gold medalist burst onto the professional boxing scene, his English was pretty rough, but man, his skills in the ring were top-notch. Over the years, though, just like his boxing chops, his English has really leveled up. 

Is Oleksandr Usyk Christian?

It’s no secret how much ‘The Cat’ is all about his country. However, he’s just as passionate about his faith in Jesus Christ. After defeating Tyson Fury, Usyk was seen kissing a Crucifix as a spiritual gesture, confirming his religious beliefs.

In fact, the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) surveyed the country back in 2022 to determine the religious practices in the country. They found that nearly 85% of the population identifies and practices Christianity, with Eastern Orthodox Christianity being the most dominant religion in the country. As such, the 39-year-old also practices Orthodox Christianity.

Oleksandr Usyk’s background and where he came from made him the man he is today. And now, he enters the ring against Rico Verhoeven on Saturday night.