Oleksandr Usyk has made his mark as the top heavyweight of his time. He's beaten Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, and Daniel Dubois, putting him at the pinnacle of the division.
Usyk's journey to the top started at cruiserweight where he got all four belts. He then moved up to heavyweight and grabbed three major titles from Anthony Joshua. The final piece of the puzzle came when he defeated Tyson Fury for the last belt.
Now, Usyk isn't sure about his next move. He's said he'll take some time off before deciding what's next. But there are a couple of options on the table.
One possibility is a rematch with Daniel Dubois, who currently holds the IBF belt. This fight could give Usyk the chance to become a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion. But there's a snag - Dubois has a fight coming up with Joseph Parker.
Another option is Martin Bakole. But Bakole thinks Usyk might not want to fight him. He said:
"Usyk, I don't think he'll say yes because I stopped him in Dubai in sparring. He knows how good I am … I'm telling the truth."
Bakole's trainer, Billy Nelson, also chimed in. He believes Bakole is the only real threat to Usyk. Nelson even sent a message to Usyk's manager:
"Egis Klimas, the only danger to Usyk is Martin Bakole. Your team all know this, that's why you never mention him. Fight a real challenger not someone you've already schooled."
Bakole isn't sitting around waiting, though. He's been ordered to fight Efe Ajagba in a final eliminator for the IBF's mandatory spot. But that fight isn't set in stone yet.
For now, Usyk is taking a well-deserved break. The boxing world will have to wait and see who he picks for his next challenge.
