Oleksandr Usyk, the unbeaten Ukrainian heavyweight champion, says he still wants to end his professional boxing career with one final bout against Tyson Fury.
The endgame for Oleksandr Usyk is coming into focus, and the undefeated heavyweight champion says he wants Tyson Fury standing across from him when it happens. Usyk, who beat Fury twice on the scorecards in 2024, recently said he views the British star as his “last dance,” according to AP News.
Before any retirement talk becomes real, Usyk is scheduled to compete on May 23 in Egypt, where he is set to face decorated Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven. That event adds an unusual twist to the late stage of Usyk’s career, especially for American fight fans who still see him primarily through the lens of his heavyweight boxing run and his back-to-back wins over Fury.
If a third fight with Fury ever materializes, it would still carry major weight in the heavyweight division even after Usyk’s recent success in the rivalry. A trilogy bout would give Fury a final chance at redemption and offer Usyk an opportunity to close the book on the defining opponent of his era. From a U.S. media standpoint, that is still the biggest commercially viable fight involving either man, particularly given how much attention their first two matchups generated worldwide.
The stakes are also personal. Usyk has already cemented his legacy as one of the most skilled heavyweights of this generation, but finishing his career by beating Fury again would remove almost any remaining debate about his place in boxing history. For Fury, the equation is simpler: a win would dramatically reshape how the rivalry is remembered.
Usyk’s comments make clear that he is already thinking about the final chapter, but first comes the May 23 date in Egypt. What happens there will determine whether the sport gets one more blockbuster showdown between Usyk and Fury.
