5 hours ago
3
James Regan
Jul 8, 2025, 07:03 AM ET
Ukraine has a long, proud history of producing great boxing champions. Light heavyweight Daniel Lapin believes he is next in line.
Lapin (11-0, 4 KOs) will fight unbeaten Brit Lewis Edmondson (11-0, 3 KOs) on the undercard when training partner and mentor Oleksandr Usyk takes on Daniel Dubois at London's Wembley Stadium on July 19.
It's a step up for the 28-year-old who is hoping, gradually, to emerge from the shadow of Usyk.
Lapin will likely enter a hostile environment with plenty of Brits cheering on their local hope in Edmondson. But the 6ft 6 southpaw is confident it will be another win for Ukraine over Britain. Thanks to Usyk, there have been a lot of those in recent years.
"Yes, there will be two [wins] that evening [for Ukraine]. Sorry, it's sports, nothing personal," he laughs.
He is attempting to follow the footsteps of not only Usyk, but the likes of Vyacheslav Senchenko -- who beat Ricky Hatton in the Brit's last fight in 2012 -- Wladimir Sidorenko, the Klitschko brothers, and Vasily Lomachenko. Some big shoes to fill.
Does he feel the pressure?
"No, for me it's pure motivation. Of course, it only motivates me," Lapin says. "It'll be a great honor for me if my name becomes part of Ukrainian boxing history as well as world boxing history. I'll be very proud and happy because I'm doing a lot of hard work in the gym, and I hope it bears fruit."
That work is done hand-in-hand with Usyk. The pair train together and motivate each other. Lapin has been dubbed the heavyweight's protégé and says working with the two-weight undisputed champion is invaluable at this stage of his career.
Usyk often shouts encouragement at the prospect while they train. Lapin welcomes it and enjoys camp life with his partner. He enjoys Usyk's infections smile and positivity when the hard work comes.
"Honestly, it really fires me up, especially when you're on your very last set, it's hard, and then you look over and see him smiling, and you start smiling too," Lapin says.
"But I also fire him up when I do the same. A smile, basically [the feeling of] joy, extends life. If you're always gloomy and sad and thinking how hard it is, how much it hurts, there won't be any results.
"All the pain and hardship should be turned into smiles and joy. Yes, maybe you can't quite do it, but [give it a] smile, keep going and, I think, it'll be easier. For some [folks], that's the way to go."
So, is he a dancer, like Usyk is famously?
"As a kid, I used to dance. I'm just a very shy person, but I'll gradually open up. I'll dance again, you'll see," he explains.
"I'm not flexible, I'm stiff like a stick."
Dancer or not, he can certainly move in the ring, but will face a stern test in Edmondson, the British and Commonwealth champion, under the Wembley arch with thousands of Brits cheering against him.
But again, nothing seems to overwhelm Lapin, who always presents a calm, relaxed front.
"The fact that he'll have, as you say, the support in London and in the UK, well, that's better for me, it motivates me even more," he says.
With all that said, and expectation so high, what is the end goal?
The answer is a familiar one when it comes to Ukrainian boxing.
"Undisputed," he says with another smile.
