Usyk has dominated the heavyweight division since moving up from cruiserweight. He started with a win over Chazz Witherspoon and then beat Derek Chisora. The Ukrainian star really made his mark when he defeated Anthony Joshua twice to unify the world titles. Usyk then stopped Daniel Dubois and capped it all off with a victory over Tyson Fury to become undisputed champion.
While Usyk's career is winding down, he's confirmed he'll keep fighting. His promoter Krassyuk has his eye on the future of the division. Speaking to TalkSPORT, Krassyuk called Martin Bakole "the next champion."
Bakole, who's from Congo but fights out of Scotland, just picked up a big win over Jared Anderson. He's also stirred up controversy by claiming he stopped both Usyk and Dubois in sparring.
The Congolese fighter will get a chance to back up the hype in May. Bakole will face Efe Ajagba in a final eliminator. The winner will become the mandatory challenger for Daniel Dubois' IBF heavyweight belt.
Dubois will defend that title against Joseph Parker on February 22. If Parker wins, he could face the Bakole-Ajagba winner or even challenge Usyk for the undisputed title.
The heavyweight division is heating up, and Bakole has a chance to prove Krassyuk right. His upcoming fight with Ajagba will be a key test on his path to potential championship glory.