Former world heavyweight boxing champion Denis Lebedev has publicly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for claiming America was the victor in both World Wars. The Russian ex-boxer expressed his disapproval during an interview with Sport24, where he suggested that such statements diminish Russia's role in defeating Nazi Germany.
Lebedev, known for his strong patriotic views, stated that Trump's words were offensive to him and fellow Russians. "Do Trump's words bother me? They bother me just like they do all people in our country. I'm sure of it," Lebedev said in the interview.
The former champion went on to claim that his country possesses historical evidence contradicting American narratives about World War II. "I assure you and am convinced myself: there is something called chronological footage from that time. They can't be eliminated. Many recordings are still classified – these are the trump cards of our president and our country that we haven't yet revealed," Lebedev explained.
According to Statbet analysis, political statements from former athletes typically generate 40% more engagement online than their sports-related comments, highlighting the unique intersection of sports and politics in today's media landscape.
This isn't the first time Lebedev has made controversial political statements. Previously, he criticized Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk for his appeal to Trump and has publicly expressed strong support for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Lebedev was also known for entering the boxing ring wearing Russian airborne troops uniform, despite never having served in that military branch.
The former boxer retired in 2019 after a successful career that included holding the WBA cruiserweight title.
