BOXERS from Russia and Belarus boxers are now banned from fighting in the UK.

While the harrowing invasion of Ukraine continues, the British Boxing Board of Control will no longer allow boxers from the offending nations to compete here.

A statement from the BBBofC said: "The British Boxing Board of Control will not permit Boxers registered/licensed by the Russian Boxing Federation or Belarussian Federation of Professional Boxing to compete in the United Kingdom under the jurisdiction of the BBBofC at this time."

The entire sport has been united in backing Ukraine as retired ring legends Wladimir and Kiev mayor Vitali Klitschko fight on the front line.

Reigning WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has also put his Anthony Joshua rematch on the back burner to take up arms against Vladimir Putin's warped assault.

Two-time Olympic champion and three-weigh king Vasiliy Lomachenko is also bravely defending his country.

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AJ was planning to rerun his September loss against the southpaw genius in June but that bout is now an afterthought as father-of-three Usyk prepares to kill for his country.

Via video link from his underground bunker, Usyk told CNN: "If they will want to take my life, or the lives of my close ones, I will have to do it.

"But I don't want that. I don't want to shoot, I don't want to kill anybody, but if they will be killing me, I will have no choice.

"Maybe, it'll sound sentimental but my soul belongs to the Lord and my body and my honour belong to my country, to my family.

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“So there is no fear, absolutely no fear. There's just bafflement. How could this be in the 21st century?

"I really don't know when I'm going to be stepping back in the ring.

“My country and my honour are more important to me than a championship belt."

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