OLEKSANDR USYK CONFIRMS RETIREMENT TIMELINE AHEAD OF MAY 23 WBC TITLE DEFENSE
Unified champion Usyk targets the Wardley vs Dubois winner before a "Last Dance" trilogy against Tyson Fury in 2026.
Oleksandr Usyk has always kept people guessing in the wild world of heavyweight boxing, but he’s not being coy about what he wants now. The unified champion wants one last, legacy-defining fight before he calls it quits.
Right now, Usyk holds the WBA, WBO, and WBC heavyweight titles. His eyes are set on Tyson Fury. After years of crushing it first as an Olympic gold medallist, then as an undisputed cruiserweight champ, and later as a dominant heavyweight, Usyk’s already done enough to secure his spot among the boxing greats. But he wants one more last challenge.
Usyk laid out how he wants his career to end in a recent chat with Inside the Ring. He’s not interested in taking on the division’s youngest contenders, like British up-and-comer Moses Itauma. He says he doesn’t want to break a young guy’s career. Instead, he’s looking at more established opponents. Here’s what he spelt out: first, he wants to face Rico. After that, whoever wins between Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois. And finally, his friend Tyson Fury, “Greedy Belly", as he calls him.
That’s his roadmap: let Wardley and Dubois settle their business, then face the winner, and finally, go out with a bang against Fury.
Usyk isn’t the only one interested in Fury. Frank Warren, who promotes Fury as well as Wardley and Dubois, told Sky Sports he’s all in for this plan. The idea that Usyk wants to take on the winner of Wardley vs Dubois fires up everyone chasing the top spot. It gives those British heavyweights a real incentive.
As for where Usyk’s next fight happens, who knows? The location’s still up in the air. Boxing’s a global business, and big fights follow deep pockets and safe venues. Usyk says that’s not his problem, though he needs to stay ready. Let the promoters figure out where and when. He just wants a fair stage and a full house.
Saudi Arabia has become the go-to for these big showdowns recently, thanks to big money and global attention. Usyk, though, only cares about landing the right opponent. The venue is secondary.
A fight between Usyk and Fury means everything for heavyweight boxing. Two giants, each with their own era of dominance, meet to decide who’s really the king of the division. Warren admits the British contenders Wardley and Dubois might have to sort out their rivalry first. That’s fine with Usyk. For him, it’s about ending on his own terms, with one fight that really settles the story. Forget belts and paydays; he wants a finish that leaves no questions.
ANTHONY JOSHUA REJECTS POST-FIGHT RING FACE-OFF DESPITE FURY’S DECISIVE WIN OVER MAKHMUDOV
Eddie Hearn explains Anthony Joshua’s ring snub. Is the Fury vs AJ fight actually signed for this autumn?
Eddie Hearn laid it out pretty clearly: Anthony Joshua stayed out of the ring Saturday night and didn’t square off with Tyson Fury, even though Fury and Turki Alalshikh were both pushing hard for that dramatic moment to sell their big all-British fight for later this year.
Tyson Fury came back for yet another post-retirement bout at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, picking up a decisive win over Russian Arslanbek Makhmudov. It wasn’t much of a contest, really. Fury dominated, collected a unanimous decision, and then instantly shifted his attention to Anthony Joshua sitting at ringside. At one point, Joshua even whipped out his phone to record the fight.
Naturally, Fury grabbed the mic and did what he does best: he hyped up the idea of fighting Joshua next, telling the crowd (and Joshua himself) that this was the battle fans have been waiting for. He even called AJ into the ring on the spot.
But Joshua didn’t bite. He stayed put, calmly telling the crowd he’s ready to fight Fury and has been chasing it for a decade. No drama. No face-off.
Later, Fury and his camp went public. They said their side had signed the contracts weeks ago and put the blame for the holdup squarely on Joshua.
“We brought him here tonight to make this fight a done deal,” Fury said. “I’ve already signed. No idea if he has.”
Netflix, broadcasting the fight, amped things up even more by teasing that the huge British showdown would happen this autumn. But Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, pushed the decision back onto Joshua. “The only one who can confirm it is AJ,” he said. “It’s one man holding things up.”
Fury himself doubled down: “If it isn’t Anthony Joshua next, I’m done with boxing. It’s him, or I’m gone.”
On the other side, Joshua’s team fired back against any claims that AJ was running from the fight. Eddie Hearn, his promoter, explained why Joshua didn’t step into the ring: “He’s not interested in the theatrics if there’s no deal done. How many times has this fight supposedly been on? Years go by, nothing happens. Until something’s signed, it’s all just talk. AJ knows it’s Fury who really needs this, and he’ll fight him. We’re confident it happens, but right now, nothing is signed.”
And as for the talk about Joshua being scared? Hearn shut that down: “Scared of what, of that? Even Fury’s own fans feel the energy is different now. We don’t see anything other than an AJ win.”
"I WON'T BE THERE"—JOHN FURY BOYCOTTS TYSON'S TOTTENHAM HOMECOMING AGAINST MAKHMUDOV
John Fury confirms he will not attend Tyson Fury’s comeback against Makhmudov. Read why the father-son bond is "destroyed."
John Fury has already made up his mind: he won't be at his son Tyson's big comeback fight against Arslanbek Makhmudov.
It’s only been 15 months since Tyson Fury said he was done with boxing, but here he is, coming out of retirement for the fifth time. On Saturday night, he’ll step into the ring at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to take on Russia’s Makhmudov in a heavyweight clash.
Everyone’s talking about what comes next. If Fury wins, there’s buzz about finally seeing him face Anthony Joshua later this year. A rematch with Oleksandr Usyk is also floating around.
Fury says the reason for his return is personal. After a car crash killed some of Joshua’s friends last December, he says it hit him that life’s too short. He wants to live every day like it’s his last.
But not everyone’s on board, especially his dad, John. Out of everyone in Fury’s circle, John’s been the loudest in saying he doesn't want to see his son back in the ring. People have wondered if he’d even show up to the fight.
Turns out, he won’t. Mail Sport reported John won’t be at the event and is still flat-out against Tyson’s comeback, even though he did show up at the press conference back in February.
This isn’t coming out of nowhere. Just a few weeks ago, John admitted his relationship with Tyson had been badly damaged by this return to boxing.
"My relationship with Tyson is destroyed," he told Playbook Boxing. "Boxing destroyed it completely. I'll say it on camera: I've never taken £10 off him in my life and I never will.
"I don't want Tyson's money, and I don't need Tyson's money. Whatever he's got, good luck to him. But don’t forget who built his story when he was a kid. He didn't build it himself, did he? Me, his father.
"I was 30 seconds away from asking for a break there. I haven't really expressed these emotions before, but they're strong, and they're there.
"I think he's past his best. I'm a no-filter kind of guy. I say it how I see it. I love him, but there are too many people patting him on the back and telling him things that aren't true, building him up like he's invincible. He's not, and he hasn't been for a while."
John isn’t the only one who feels this way. Tyson’s wife, Paris and his brother Tommy have also spoken up about wanting him to stay retired.
"If you asked any one of his family if we want to see him keep boxing, the answer would be a big ‘no’ from all of us," Tommy said to Bloody Elbow. "That’s everyone, because we care about his health."
