Oleksandr Usyk, the undisputed heavyweight champion, has set his sights on just two more fights before he hangs up his gloves. The Ukrainian boxer wants a rematch with Tyson Fury and possibly a third bout with Anthony Joshua.
Usyk's career has been nothing short of impressive. He won Olympic gold in 2012 and turned pro the following year. By his tenth fight, he'd grabbed his first world title at cruiserweight. He went on to unify the division, becoming the undisputed champion in just his 15th pro fight.
After defending his cruiserweight titles against Tony Bellew, Usyk moved up to heavyweight. He quickly made his mark, winning three major titles from Anthony Joshua. He then defended those titles in a rematch with Joshua and stopped Daniel Dubois in his second defense.
Usyk's crowning achievement came when he beat Tyson Fury to become the undisputed heavyweight champion. He hurt Fury badly in the ninth round, forcing a count, and won by split decision.
Now, Usyk is gearing up for a rematch with Fury on December 21 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. After that, he's only interested in one more potential fight.
In an interview with New Voice, Usyk said:
"Well, this is a rematch with Fury and possibly a third match with Joshua. Only with these two guys it is still interesting, from now on let the youth get fit and work … The logical line is that, apart from Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, I have no desire to box with anyone."
Usyk's statement shows he's ready to pass the torch to the next generation of boxers. He's accomplished nearly everything in the sport, becoming only the second boxer after Evander Holyfield to conquer both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions.
As for Joshua, he's got his own plans. He's set to fight Daniel Dubois for the IBF World title, which Dubois got after Usyk vacated the belt. If Joshua wins, he'll become a three-time heavyweight champion and will likely look to face the winner of Usyk-Fury 2 for the undisputed title.
Usyk has said he'd happily give Joshua a third shot at beating him. He appreciates the opportunity Joshua gave him back in 2021 when they first fought.
With Usyk's career winding down, fans will surely be eager to see how these final chapters unfold. The heavyweight division continues to deliver exciting matchups, and Usyk's remaining fights promise to be must-see events.
