Next month, Oleksandr Usyk kickstarts a three-fight plan before his potential 2027 retirement and the heavyweight ruler has now provided an update on his final months as a professional.
Usyk has established himself as a boxing legend in recent years, building on his phenomenal undisputed run as a cruiserweight and replicating the feat as a heavyweight, becoming just the second fighter to claim the undisputed crown in both divisions.
At 39-years-old, Usyk is beginning to wind down and that shows by the fact that his next opponent boasts a boxing record of just 1-0, with Rico Verhoeven being a kickboxing superstar rather than a recognised threat to the heavyweight throne.
After Verhoeven, the Ukrainian is targeting the winner of Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois, though has said he will consider mandatory challenger Agit Kabayel, too. Previously, a trilogy with Tyson Fury was his desired next move, however with ‘The Gypsy King’ set to face Anthony Joshua, Usyk may take a step back and choose another rival for his farewell bout.
Regardless of who stands in the opposite corner, the unified champion told Daily Mail Boxing he has a date in mind for hanging up the gloves, and that it is ‘close’.
“Yes, of course [I am savouring each moment of my career before retirement]. Three days ago, I think about, ‘this is date’. [I have been thinking about] how I say [that I am retired and] what I say. Listen, it is close.”
The unconventional Usyk-Verhoeven fight takes place at an equally unconventional location, as the two big men headline at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, topping a bill that features a bout which could determine another future Usyk opponent.
