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The latest harrowing news to surface from the Ukraine-Russia conflict has apparently compelled Terence Crawford to provide a public service announcement.
The WBO welterweight titlist from Omaha, Nebraska, recently posted an earnest video of himself on social media offering up words of encouragement to the people of Ukraine, in particular to their boxers and his friend Mykola Kovalchuk, the president of the WBC chapter in Ukraine.
In his video, Crawford singled out praise for Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, the retired heavyweight brothers; former lightweight champion Vasiliy Lomachenko, a former promotional stablemate; heavyweight champion (WBO, WBA, IBF) Oleksandr Usyk; and Viktor Postol, whom Crawford fought in 2016 in a 140-pound title-unification bout; Crawford won by 12-round unanimous decision to unify two of the belts in the division.
Crawford’s call for support and solidarity arrived shortly after news broke that Russian soldiers had appeared to have gone on a killing spree of innocent civilians in the town of Bucha, which until only recently the Russians had occupied. While Russia has denied western media accounts of the carnage, suggesting the corpses were a hoax, numerous eyewitness accounts of a mass, makeshift burial have told a different story. Moreover, in the days since the story broke, a New York Times investigation corroborated the findings through satellite imagery. Independently verified videos depicting Russian soldiers killing civilians continue to pop up as well in support of proof of what President Joe Biden has called a “war crime.”
“What’s going on everybody? I’m making this video to send love, support to my Ukrainian friends. It’s a bad time right there right now,” Crawford said. “I’m asking each and every one of you guys to pray for them. And send your love and support.
“I got a couple of friends out there – Mykola, WBC president – [they are] really going through it right now. I know there’s more fighters like Klitschkos, Lomachenko, Usyk, Viktor Postol, a guy that I once shared the ring with. They [are] fighting for their country.
“They need your guys’ support. Support them. Let’s pray for peace. I hope everything can someday go back to normal for those guys.
“Let’s keep them all in our prayers.”
The 34-year-old Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) last fought in November, a 10th-round stoppage of Shawn Porter in their welterweight contest held at Michelob ULTRA Arena at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Crawford, a free agent, does not currently have a fight scheduled.