Ukrainian boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk found himself in an unexpected situation when he was briefly handcuffed by authorities at Krakow Airport in Poland. While the details of the incident remain unclear, the situation quickly caught the attention of fans, media, and even Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. As the story unfolded, social media was flooded with humorous reactions and speculative theories from fans, many of whom couldn’t resist the chance to make light of the situation.

According to reports, the 37-year-old heavyweight champion was traveling through Krakow Airport with his wife, Yekaterina Usyk, when authorities approached him. After a brief interaction, Usyk was placed in handcuffs, a scene that was captured and shared by his wife on Instagram. The video quickly went viral, leading to widespread confusion and speculation about what had caused the incident.

President Zelenskyy was quick to respond, expressing his frustration over the treatment of Ukraine’s national hero. He stated, “I was outraged by this attitude towards our citizen and champion.” However, Zelenskyy also confirmed that the issue had been swiftly resolved, and Usyk, with a perfect 22-0 record, was released shortly after.

Once freed, Usyk took to social media to reassure his fans, emphasizing that the misunderstanding had been resolved quickly and professionally. In a message posted online, Usyk thanked everyone who had shown concern and gave a special shout-out to Ukrainian diplomats for their swift intervention. He also expressed respect for the Polish authorities, praising their adherence to protocols despite his fame. Usyk wrote, “Thanks to Ukrainian diplomats for the efficient support. And respect to Polish Police for conducting their obligations with no regards to height, weight, reach, and regalia.”

As soon as news of the incident broke, fans on social media began making light of the situation, with many offering humorous theories and comments. A running joke among the fans was that Usyk, despite being surrounded by five officers, would have easily outpointed them if it came down to a fight. One fan humorously remarked, “Not worried at all, he will beat them all via unanimous decision.”

Another popular theory involved Tyson Fury, Usyk’s British boxing rival. One fan cheekily suggested, “Fury reported him for assault,” referencing their upcoming rematch and the possibility that Fury might be trying to avoid facing Usyk again. Their last fight, in which Usyk emerged victorious via split decision, was still fresh in fans’ minds, and many saw this incident as an opportunity to poke fun at the two fighters’ rivalry.

Another fan added to the conspiracy theories by claiming that the incident was part of a plot to avoid the highly anticipated rematch between Usyk and Fury. They quipped, “Anything to get out of the Fury rematch.” Notably, Usyk and Fury are set to face each other again in December, with the undisputed heavyweight title on the line.

One particularly witty comment linked the airport detainment to a controversial moment in one of Usyk’s previous fights. During his bout with British fighter Daniel Dubois, Dubois landed a shot to Usyk’s abdomen, which many contested as either a legal blow or a low blow. The referee ruled it a low blow, halting the action and impacting the fight’s outcome. A fan joked, “They’re not letting him go till he admits that body shot was legal.”

Lastly, another fan, playing on Usyk’s well-known humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, wrote, “Free Usyk. Hope he don’t get sent straight to the front line.” This comment referenced Usyk’s involvement in providing aid and resources to his war-torn country, where he runs the Usyk Foundation, an organization that helps buy ambulances and deliver humanitarian aid.

While this airport incident was a brief moment of confusion and comedy, it underscores Usyk’s importance both as a world-class athlete and a national symbol for Ukraine. Beyond his dominance in the boxing ring, Usyk is also a vocal supporter of his country’s efforts in the ongoing conflict with Russia. His foundation plays a critical role in providing aid, and he has repeatedly spoken out in support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence.

Despite the strange situation in Poland, Usyk handled it with grace and humor, acknowledging the professionalism of the authorities and thanking everyone involved for their support. His fans, always quick to rally behind him, kept the mood light with their jokes and theories, turning what could have been a tense moment into an opportunity for laughter.