After his Victory, Oleksandr Usyk Raised Field Marshal Mazepa's Saber in the Ring
In doing so, he reminded the world of the legendary Hetman (Field Marshal), who fought for Ukraine's freedom from Russian invader
Following a historic victory in his rematch against Tyson Fury, world boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk held aloft the original saber of Ivan Mazepa.
In doing so, he reminded the world of the legendary Hetman (Field Marshal), who fought for Ukraine's freedom from Russian invaders over 300 years ago.
The Usyk-Fury bout took place on December 21 at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Usyk, the holder of the WBA, WBC, and WBO heavyweight championship belts, defended his title. Immediately after the victory, the Ukrainian raised Mazepa’s 17th-century saber above his head. Millions of viewers worldwide witnessed this unique artifact for the first time.
Ivan Mazepa ruled the Cossack state for over 20 years, uniting the Left-Bank and Right-Bank regions of Ukraine during his tenure. In addition to being a statesman, Mazepa was a patron of the arts, financing the construction of churches, monasteries, and educational institutions, contributing over a million gold ducats—equivalent to over $150 million today. The image of Mazepa inspired renowned artists and writers such as Victor Hugo, George Byron, Eugène Delacroix, Théodore Géricault, Franz Liszt, and many others, who dedicated works to his legacy. In Ukraine, Mazepa is celebrated as a hero who fought for the country's sovereignty and freedom from imperial domination.
Saber’s history
“The saber of Hetman Mazepa was crafted at the end of the 17th century,” explains Maksym Blakytnyi, Director of the Tarnovsky Chernihiv Regional Historical Museum. “It is an example of Ukrainian weapon craftsmanship, influenced by the cultures of Muslim countries with which Ukraine maintained diplomatic and trade relations. Mazepa gifted the saber to Cossack officer Savich for his excellent service. Later, Savich’s descendants sold it to Vasyl Tarnovsky, a collector of Ukrainian antiquities. Thus, it became part of our museum’s collection, now representing Ukrainian culture and one of its greatest warriors to the world.”
The saber was transported to Saudi Arabia with full compliance to preservation standards and under the supervision of museum specialists. Its presentation marks a significant step in cultural diplomacy.
Yulia Solovey
and Yaroslava Gres
The project was organized by the Oleksandr Usyk Charitable Foundation and Ukraine WOW, a public organization promoting Ukrainian culture.
The project was organized by the Oleksandr Usyk Charitable Foundation and Ukraine WOW, in collaboration with Aurora Multimarket, supported by the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Embassy in Saudi Arabia, K2 Promotions, the Tarnovsky Chernihiv Regional Historical Museum, the Chernihiv Regional Administration, the Saudi Ministry of Culture, the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, and SELA, the event organizers. Ukrainian historian Oleksii Sokyrko served as a consultant on the project.
“In the third year of full-scale war, telling Ukraine’s story is more important than ever,” say UKRAINE WOW co-founders Yaroslava Gres and Yulia Solovey. “This is especially true in countries that could become key partners in rebuilding Ukraine and preserving its cultural heritage. Saudi Arabia is one such country. We are thrilled that the themes of Cossack history and the name of a legendary hetman resonated with the event organizers, granting us the unique privilege—unprecedented in boxing history—of displaying Mazepa’s saber in the ring, held by our champion. Through such projects, we aim to draw global attention to the legacy of outstanding Ukrainians, their contributions, and their impact on world culture. For centuries, Russia defamed Hetman Mazepa's name. Thanks to Oleksandr Usyk, it is re-entering the global media space and receiving the recognition it deserves.”
Additional details
Along the blade of the saber, there is an inscription: “All my hope I place in you, Mother of God, protect me under your mantle!” The right side of the blade features 2 candles, 2 angels, and the crowned Virgin Mary with a child and a sprig. This depiction is known as “The Unfading Flower.”
Oleksandr Usyk often draws inspiration from Cossack themes. In July 2022, he attended a press conference with his then-opponent Anthony Joshua dressed as a Zaporizhian Cossack. For his first fight against Fury, he entered the ring wearing a ceremonial “hetman” costume. He frequently styles his hair in historical Cossack fashion and enters the ring to thematic music.
Ukraine Wow