Motivating Himself And Respecting Ukrainian History, Usyk Shows A New Haircut Ahead Of The Rematch Against AJ

Oleksandr Usyk (Instagram @usykaa)

JAKARTA - Oleksandr Usyk will face Anthony Joshua in a rematch on Saturday. However, this time, the Ukrainian boxer will enter the ring with a different look.

Usyk won by a unanimous decision in the first duel with Joshua, as well as giving the second defeat in the career of the boxer who is familiarly called AJ.

Although Joshua boasts that he wants to avenge his defeat in the duel in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night, Usyk will not let it go. In addition to preparing himself optimally through training, he also encourages himself through a new haircut.

Usyk's latest haircut leaves only one strand and his head is half shaved or called 'oseledets'. This he did as a tribute to his national history and culture when he represented Ukraine.

The oseledets haircut is popular in the history of the Cossacks, who originated in southern and eastern Ukraine and parts of Russia.

It is originally related to the Viking style which dates back to the time when they took Kyiv from the Slavs in the 10th century.

More recently, its popularity increased in the 1990s following Ukraine's independence, having previously been a popular choice among Ukrainian nationalists at the beginning of the century.

"You have to know that the Cossack oseledet haircut and hopak in the ring is not only part of the image for me, it is a tribute to our history and culture," Usyk explained at a press conference quoted by Marca, Thursday.

This is not the first time Usyk has worn the oseledets haircut, as he actually did it at the 2012 London Olympics when he represented Ukraine.