Russian boxer Dmitry Bivol pleads for peace and sends message to Ukrainian fighters Oleksandr Usyk and Vasiliy Lomachenko

Russian boxer Dmitry Bivol wishes ‘only for peace’ following Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine and believes the likes of Oleksandr Usyk and Vasiliy Lomachenko must do ‘what they have to do’ in the fight.

WBA light-heavyweight champion Bivol, undefeated in 19 professional fights, will take on pound-for-pound king Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in May with the Mexican moving up in weight class in pursuit of more glory.

Following confirmation of their fight last week, the two came together at a press conference in San Diego on Wednesday with the growing crisis in Ukraine inevitably became a talking point.

Bivol was born in Tokmak, Kyrgyzstan, but has been a long-time resident of St Petersburg and is a Russian citizen. The 31-year-old has not expressed his support for Russian president Vladimir Putin with his immediate concern for friends and family in both Russia and Ukraine.

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‘I have a lot of friends in Ukraine,’ Bivol said. ‘I have a lot of friends in Russia. My family is in Russia.’

Bivol added he has ‘a lot of friends everywhere’ and wishes them ‘only peace and only the best.’

‘It’s really sad for me,’ he said. ‘Every day I wake up and read the news and I hope it will stop.’

Heavyweight world champion Usyk and three-weight world champion Lomachenko have both returned to their homeland of Ukraine to take up arms following the invasion.

Both have joined territorial defence battalions, pictured in military gear and carrying rifles this week with Usyk declaring he is ready to ‘take a life’ in order to defend his family and his country.

Asked about the involvement of Ukrainian fighters in the conflict, Bivol told FightHype: ‘It is hard to comment on