OLEKSANDR USYK is looking to retain the heavyweight belt as he faces Anthony Joshua in a big rematch in Saudi Arabia.
But the formerly-head-shaven Ukrainian is looking to give his country a much-needed boost after the Russian invasion, so a new have the appearance
When he attended the pre-fight press conference, Usyk had his single tress on his completely shaved head. This is the style known as osedelets.
Won Anthony Joshua 40/1 or Oleksandr Usyk 25/1 to beat William Hill
Oleksandr Usyk's What does the hairstyle symbolize?
The osedelets are a traditional Cossack haircut. Cossacks are warriors of southern and eastern Ukraine and parts of Russia.
In Russia it is often called hohor and is used as a derogatory term for Ukrainians.
Anthony in 2021 He shaved his head when he defeated Joshua Nevertheless, Usyk has fought in Osederets many times before.
This includes the day Joshua won the heavyweight gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics, a day before he became Super Heavyweight Olympic Champion.
Then he said: "Know that the Cossack Oserede hairstyle and the hopak in the ring are not merely part of my image, but a tribute to our history and culture.
The hopak is a traditional Cossack dance thatwas also performed by Usyk after defeating Joshua at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium. Where did it originate?
The half-shaven hairstyle is believed to have been adopted from the Slavic peoples conquered by the Vikings in the 10th century, who captured Kyiv in the 10th century and spread to today's Ukraine and Russia. created Kievan Rus, a state that would become both
They were so popular among the Viking people that William the Conqueror was seen with a similar hairstyle in the Bayeux Tapestry depicting the Norman victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
Its present form was adopted by the Ukrainian Cossacks in the 16th century. Cossacks left a long central strip, often braided or tied in a topknot, over their shaved heads.
It regained popularity among Ukrainian nationalists in the early 20th century, before being suppressed under Stalin's rule.
Later with Ukraine's independence in the 1990s. revive again.
