Boxing champion throws his weight behind NFTs that aim to raise funds for Ukraine

A new nonfungible token collection is aiming to give a substantial contribution to a charitable foundation supporting Ukrainians following Russia's invasion.

Blockasset says the NFT release has been organized in collaboration with world heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk, who is from Ukraine himself.

The sale comes ahead of Usyk's world title defence against Anthony Joshua on August 20.

There are 2,000 one-of-one NFTs of unique artwork, and they feature quirky designs by the world-renowned artist Dosbrak — chronicling some of the key moments from the boxer's undefeated professional career.

When the invasion began, Usyk had joined Kyiv's territorial defence battalion but was later given permission to leave the country so he could prepare for his fight against Joshua.

The Olympic gold medalist also hopes that this fight will help raise funds for Ukraine.

Speaking about the new collection, Usyk said:

"I appreciate the opportunity to link up with Blockasset, who I regard as the heavyweight champions of sports NFTs. I'm a big fan of Dosbrak's art, and it has been a pleasure to collaborate on this initiative, which I am sure will raise a considerable amount for our foundation."

'Bringing blockchain communities together'

The crypto community has played a substantial role in raising funds for Ukraine, with the country's government opening official wallets in a plea for donations. Finland recently sold off 1,800 BTC seized from drug-related crimes too — giving $47 million to Kyiv.

And with the conflict now in its sixth month, there is no end in sight, with Ukraine urging people around the world not to forget about what's happening there.

Blockasset's CEO, Paul Evans, said:

"We're delighted to be able to help Oleksandr raise funds for the Usyk Foundation through our latest drop. We're very confident that by bringing blockchain communities together, we can make a substantial contribution."

On its website, the Usyk Foundation explains that thousands of Ukrainians were left homeless and out of work, with many losing loved ones. Its goal is "to cover the basic needs of the people affected by the war" — and says "every hryvnia, dollar, and euro will support those defending our land and our freedom on the front lines and in the rear."

A presale for these nonfungible tokens began on July 30, with the promise that those who receive the rarest NFTs from the mint will also receive a number of exclusive physical items — including gloves signed by Usyk himself, and autographed Dosbrak prints.

Fast facts about this NFT drop

Enthusiasts who want to buy one of these NFTs can use the USDC stablecoin as a payment method — and in a bid to reach as many supporters as possible, Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay and Google Pay are available too. Each artwork costs $200, or 200 USDC, with a purchasing limit of four NFTs during the presale.

The NFTs are going to be minted on the Solana network. They'll subsequently be available on second-hand marketplaces such as Magic Eden and OpenSea. It's hoped reaching out to multiple blockchains will remove barriers to entry — and bring the whole industry together.

Dosbrak has previously collaborated with the likes of Joe Rogan, Conor McGregor, Mike Tyson, ESPN, UFC and Tyson Fury.

Blockasset is an NFT platform and ecosystem that allows the world's biggest sports stars to release their own athlete tokens — and they can be used to unlock exclusive perks.