Oleksandr Usyk, the WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight champion, has once again made it clear that the end of his professional boxing career is approaching.
Oleksandr Usyk says the finish line is coming into view. The unified heavyweight champion told Daily Mail Boxing that retirement is no longer a distant idea, but something he can already see ahead as he continues what appears to be the closing chapter of one of boxing’s most accomplished careers.
“Three days ago I was thinking about that date: what I will say and how I will say it. Listen, it’s close. Right now I’m truly enjoying what I do. Do I become emotional when I think about it? No. I keep my heart warm and my head cool,” Usyk said in an interview with the YouTube channel Daily Mail Boxing.
Even with the end drawing nearer, the 39-year-old has shown no signs of easing up. Usyk has repeatedly said he wants three more fights before officially stepping away from the sport, a plan that gives extra weight to every appearance from this point on. For the heavyweight division, that means the title picture could shift quickly once he leaves, opening the door for the next wave of contenders to fight for control of boxing’s glamour class.
According to the report, the first bout on that final run will come against legendary kickboxer Rico Verhoeven on May 23 at a striking setting near the Giza pyramids in Egypt. The matchup stands out not only because of the location, but because it places one of boxing’s most technically gifted champions opposite a combat sports star from another discipline.
Usyk’s legacy is already secure after major wins over Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, but his remaining fights will shape how his last act is remembered. Whether he adds more marquee victories or simply follows through on his timeline, the focus now shifts from how long he can stay on top to how he wants to leave the sport.
For now, the clock is ticking on Usyk’s career, and his next outing will be watched as much for what it says about his future as for the result itself.
