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.
FRANK WARREN WARNS JOSHUA VS FURY "IS TOAST" IF ANTHONY JOSHUA LOSES NEXT
Frank Warren has warned that the Joshua vs Fury fight will be cancelled if Anthony Joshua loses his next bout in Riyadh.
Frank Warren isn’t mincing words when it comes to Anthony Joshua’s comeback. The Queensberry boss put out a pretty blunt warning while explaining why the long-awaited Joshua vs Fury showdown might crash and burn despite both fighters finally signing on for a late-2026 clash.
Tensions have already been running high. After Tyson Fury’s unanimous win over Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham in April, he didn’t waste time calling out Joshua. AJ shot right back, calling Fury a "clout chaser" and claiming, “I’m the boss; you work for me.” It’s classic heavyweight drama, and with promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren confirming the deal, fans are buzzing. It feels huge, like the old Bruno vs Lennox Lewis showdown in the ‘90s.
But there’s a catch. Everything could unravel if Joshua slips up in his next fight. He’s set to face off against Kristian Prenga, a guy barely anyone outside of Albania has heard of, in Riyadh. Warren says if Joshua loses, the massive Fury bout is toast, simple as that.
"If he loses to this guy, it kills the fight," Warren told the BBC, hinting the big bout could land as soon as late October. Warren also mentioned Fury might not want to sit around waiting and could squeeze in another fight first. “Tyson wants to keep busy,” Warren said. “For him, being in the gym isn’t just about staying in shape; it’s about his mental health too. He needs something to focus on a fight in the books. Right now, we don’t have that.”
If Fury does get past Joshua, what’s next? Warren says Fury, who’s now 37, is already thinking about unfinished business with Oleksandr Usyk. “Tyson has made it very plain he’d like to fight Usyk again. That could be the next step.”
Usyk is the only man to have beaten Fury in his nearly twenty-year career. He also handed Joshua two of his four losses, with Joshua’s other defeats coming from Daniel Dubois and Andy Ruiz Jr. The stakes couldn’t be higher.
THE ROAD TO THE RING: HOW TYSON FURY AND AJ FINALLY SIGNED THEIR CAREER-DEFINING CONTRACT
It is finally happening: Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua is a done deal. Learn more about the planned fight and AJ's upcoming July warm-up.
Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have agreed to fight in November, but it looks like both might squeeze in warm-up bouts before their big showdown.
Fury just got back in the ring earlier this month, outpointing Arslanbek Makhmudov in what was his first fight since losing a second time to Oleksandr Usyk in 202. At first, Fury said he’d only face Joshua next, but he’s starting to rethink that now that AJ officially signed on for their November fight.
Joshua’s set to fight Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia on July 25, and Fury might do something similar to stay sharp. Frank Warren, Fury’s promoter, told talkSPORT, “Tyson may want another fight to keep him ticking over; we’ll see. Tyson signed up for it months ago, but AJ’s on board now, so it’s happening. Looks like October. It’s a great fight, finally. The timing depends on venue availability.”
After beating Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Fury said he’d already signed the contract with Joshua. It got awkward after the decision. Fury grabbed the mic, called Joshua out, and tried to get him in the ring. Joshua just sat there, not moving, not saying a word.
Fury called Joshua’s reaction “a bit suspect, how he handled himself". Later, Joshua explained he wasn’t ready to say yes quite yet. He’d been in a nasty car crash in December that killed two close friends. Joshua said, “I was in a serious incident. There’s real stuff happening in my life. I’m not ducking anyone. Once I’m 100 per cent, I’ll fight.” His only fight in the last 19 months was a win over YouTuber Jake Paul.
Back then, Fury worried the fight might fall apart if Joshua decided to take a warm-up first. “He’s had his problems. We all have. God knows I’ve had problems myself. I’ve tried to kill myself before. So I get it. I’ve been up and down,” Fury said.
“I’ve been one step out of the mental institution. We’ve all got our troubles; that’s just life. If you’re in this game, you’re a boxer, or you’re not. The thing is, heavyweights can get knocked out by anybody. Even a journeyman can flatten a big name if they land the right shot.”
Fury made it clear he didn’t bring up Joshua during the build-up after his accident. “I gave him the space and respect he deserved. But he showed up today, and I asked him to step up for a fight. He should have come into the ring, but he didn’t answer. He didn’t want it. He didn’t even look like he wanted it. He just seemed stunned and didn’t know what to say.”
“Let’s get it on. For ten years, we’ve been circling each other. Still, there’s no guarantee this fight even happens next. Do I want it? Yes. But will it happen? Honestly, I have no idea.”
