Usyk trains at bombed energy plant: Iconic shot named among best photos of 2025
Oleksandr Usyk (photo: Getty Images)
A photo of Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk, taken during a training session at a damaged thermal power plant, has been included in the ranking of the most striking sports photographs of 2025, according to Sky Sports.
Triumph of resilience amid ruins
The image that made a global top ranking was captured at one of DTEK's facilities.
Usyk chose a highly symbolic location for his training session, the control panel of a power unit that was effectively destroyed by an enemy attack.
The boxer’s decision was meant not only to support energy workers who restore the system around the clock, but also to remind the world of the scale of damage to Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure.
Sky Sports editors noted that the photo perfectly conveys emotional intensity and an unbreakable spirit that became defining markers of the year.
Oleksandr Usyk (photo: Getty Images)
Sporting achievements and the champion's plans
Beyond recognition in the media space, 2025 was also a landmark year for Oleksandr Usyk in the ring. The Ukrainian faced Daniel Dubois for the second time and secured a convincing victory by technical knockout, which allowed him to regain the status of undisputed heavyweight champion.
Despite later withdrawing from a bout with Fabio Wardley and losing the WBO belt, Usyk remains the division’s leading star.
At present, the decorated boxer is focused on a megafight with American heavyweight Deontay Wilder. Negotiations over the bout are already at an active stage.
