JAKARTA - Undisputed two-time heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk has confirmed that he will undergo three more duels before retiring. Fabio Wardley and Tyson Fury are on the list of the Ukrainian champion's retirement fight plans.
The opportunity is open for Wardley, but on the condition that he must win the fight against former heavyweight world champion, Daniel Dubois, to defend his World Boxing Organization (WBO) belt.
"I'm going to have three more fights. Rico (Verhoeven) is the first, the second is who wins between Wardley or Dubois, and then my third fight is against my friend Tyson Fury," Usyk told Ring Magazine.
The 39-year-old fighter initially refused to meet Wardley and preferred to vacate the WBO belt. Wardley then agreed to meet Dubois in early May 2026, a few weeks before Usyk vs Verhoeven.
Usyk's announcement to defend the title voluntarily with Verhoeven made the boxing world go crazy. The decision drew a lot of criticism from heavyweight fighters who should have more right to meet him.
"For me, this is a real fight. Rico is not a good boxer, but it doesn't matter if it's just an entertaining fight," Usyk said in response to the various criticisms.
Usyk is the best heavyweight fighter at the moment with a record of not losing in 24 professional fights. He last met Dubois in July last year to become the undisputed world champion for the second time.
Prior to that, he won twice against Tyson Fury. The first was in May 2024 to unify the four heavyweight belts and the second was in December of the same year.
Fury then decided to hang up his boxing gloves the following month, but earlier this year announced he was returning to the ring. The decision to make a comeback was motivated by a trilogy fight with Usyk as well as revenge.
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