Oleksandr Usyk, the unified heavyweight champion with a record of 24-0 (15 KOs), recently revealed his plans for retirement, notably excluding a potential fight with Deontay Wilder.
Usyk’s plan outlines three fights before he hangs up the gloves. He is scheduled to defend his WBC heavyweight title against Rico Verhoeven on May 23rd.
The 39-year-old, who previously vacated the IBF heavyweight title in June last year, indicated who he wants to face in his farewell fight. It would be the 27th outing of his incredible career.
Usyk’s Retirement Plan
Speaking with The Ring, he said:
I will have three more fights. Listen, Rico is first, second it’s who wins between Wardley or Dubois and then my third fight is my friend Greedy Belly, Tyson Fury.
While Usyk does expect to face Fury, he does not think he will cross paths with Moses Itauma, the rising star of the heavyweight division.
No, I’m not going to fight with Itauma because he’s a young guy,” he said. “I don’t want to break this guy.
Usyk has already defeated Fury twice after his back-to-back victories at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena in 2024, which sent the Brit into a short retirement.
