Ukraine boxer Viktor Postol may have lost his last fight because his mind was on family and war, trainer says

• Ukraine boxer Viktor Postol may have lost his last fight because he was distracted.
• That's according to boxing coach Freddie Roach, who recently spoke to Insider.

LOS ANGELES — Viktor Postol may have lost his last fight because his mind was on family and war, the Ukraine boxer's coach Freddie Roach told Insider recently.

A one-time world champion, 38-year-old Postol fought Gary Antuanne Russell during a Premier Boxing Champions on Showtime card in Las Vegas on February 26.

At a pre-fight event Insider attended, reporters learned from Postol that his relatives were "in the middle of everything" at home — the same week Russia invaded Ukraine's major cities.

Russell defeated Postol late in the 10th and final round of a one-sided match, in a bout that could have gone to a decision.

Thinking of the war effort, and whether his family remained safe, may have affected the outcome of the fight, according to Roach, 62.

"He may have lost his last fight because his mind was on his family back home," the six-time boxing trainer of the year told us.

Postol did not stay in the ring to hear the official announcement when Russel beat him, and sought a quick flight out of the US to return to his family.

"It took us two days to get him on a plane home and he's with his family right now," said Roach.

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 and, in the weeks since, more than 10 million people have been displaced as multiple Ukraine towns and cities have been shelled from Russian aggression. Thousands have died.

The war has had a significant impact on the boxing community, as boxing Hall-of-Famer and former heavyweight world champion Vitali Klitschko is the current mayor of Kiev and a figurehead in the defense efforts.

Another Hall-of-Fame boxer and former heavyweight world champion, Wladimir Klitschko, joined his older brother Vitali and has helped amplify their message to international media.

The Klitschko brothers said early this month that war is "absolutely terrifying", "complete madness", and "terror" in 2022.

Wladimir alleged on March 10 that Ukraine children are "dying by the dozens" in an angry video that blasted Russia President Vladimir Putin.

More recently, Kyiv mayor Vitali snapped back with a simple but effective "bullshit" when asked about Putin's claims that the Russian army hasn't been targeting civilians. He then pointed to a residential building that had been turned to rubble.

Insider asked Roach about Wladimir, who he once helped train, and his role in Ukraine.

"It sounds like he's trying to save his country," he said. "It's not an easy job right now with Russia being so strong."

A post shared by Freddie Roach (@freddieroach)

Circling back to Postol, Roach said he "wouldn't be surprised" to see his fighter join the Klitschkos, and another world champion Ukraine boxer Vasiliy Lomachenko, in the country's military.

"If he joins that crew with the other guys, and all the guys get together … they all know how to fight!" Roach said.