Usyk Fires Up Polissya After Wild Conference League Draw in Copenhagen

Oleksandr Usyk, the former undisputed heavyweight champion and now first vice-president of Polissya Zhytomyr, made a surprise visit to the dressing room following his team's thrilling 3-3 draw against Copenhagen in the UEFA Conference League second qualifying round. Usyk praised the squad for their fighting spirit but urged them to show more bravery in decisive moments. Drawing on his own champion mentality, he told the players they are not circus animals but real predators capable of much more. "Some of you get a great chance but hesitate. That's okay — we're a team. But the potential is incredible. Be braver and more confident. You are wolves, not tigers in a zoo. You can take more," Usyk said. The Ukrainian side will host the return leg on July 29, with the winner advancing to the next round of the competition.