Oleksandr Usyk has requested a level of tolerance from the boxing world as he gears up to face Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven on May 23.
Throughout his illustrious career, the Ukrainian has never been shy of taking on a formidable challenge, having repeatedly faced the fiercest available competitors in their back yards.
At cruiserweight, he defeated Michael Hunter, Mairis Briedis, Murat Gassiev and Tony Bellew - all on away soil - before replicating his success at heavyweight and becoming a three-time, two-division undisputed champion.
Such willingness to test himself against the very best, and ultimately emerge victorious every single time, can only be commended.
But now, the masterful southpaw is asking for us to cut him a measure of slack, at least while he approaches a vastly different challenge on May 23.
Many will argue it is not a challenge at all, but rather a chance for him to break away - even if just for a brief while - from the murderers’ row he has been compelled to navigate for nearly a decade.
Is it so unreasonable, then, that he has decided to face Peter Fury trained Verhoeven at Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza?
In the context of his career, it must be said that Usyk, perhaps more so than anyone else, has earned the right to enter a ‘gimme fight’.
Speaking at the launch press conference, the 39-year-old seemed almost relieved to not be sharing a table with King Kong, or rather a genuine contender - or champion - where there is at least a shred of jeopardy attached to their fight.
“One time, I want to do what I want,” he said, shortly after revealing that the key to his success is rigorous training and “good pasta”.
In saying so, Usyk was referring to his consistent run against world-class opposition and hoping that, on this occasion, the boxing world will forgive him for accepting an easier touch.
Regardless of the matter at hand, Usyk’s legacy in the sport will not be tarnished one jot, but should he really be facing an opponent of Verhoeven’s calibre when he remains the universally-recognised heavyweight king?
Many would think not, especially while he still holds the WBC, IBF and WBA world titles. And yet, if anyone deserves a pass, it is arguably none other than Usyk himself.
Either way, Verhoeven seems to think he is capable of pulling off a monumental upset, which would surely be up there as one of the greatest in sporting history.
During their presser, the kickboxer also mentioned his friend and actor Jason Statham, who, it is well publicised, had somehow managed to convince Turki Alalshikh to make this fight happen.
And here, unfortunately, is where the problem lies.
By receiving advice from a Hollywood actor, Alalshikh has essentially taken a bonkers idea and served it up as ‘sport’, courtesy of the WBC belt.
In that sense, Usyk must certainly be forgiven for seizing such an opportunity, but perhaps the overall blame should lie elsewhere.
