Oleksandr Usyk has two fighters he’s thinking about for his very last fight after giving up his titles.
Oleksandr Usyk might end his amazing career with a surprising crossover fight as he decides between two options for his last big match.
Earlier this month, the two-time undisputed heavyweight champ announced he’s giving up his WBA, WBC, and IBF heavyweight titles for what he calls his “last dance.” The 39-year-old, who had a tough time against kickboxing champ Rico Verhoeven last month, was supposed to fight WBC interim champ and mandatory challenger Agit Kabayel. But those plans have been dropped for his final fight.
So, who will Usyk face before retiring? A third fight with Tyson Fury is off the table, according to Sergey Lapin, the CEO of Usyk’s promotional company Ready To Fight. Instead, a match with former heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder seems to be the frontrunner.
Last year, Usyk told Boxing King Media, “I want to keep fighting next year. I want to fight Deontay Wilder. He’s a world champion and a very famous, strong guy.” He also said, “One of the great heavyweights of the last 10 years. I talked with my team, and he’s our first choice.”
Now, according to Ring Magazine, Wilder is still Usyk’s top pick. But Usyk is also thinking about facing former UFC heavyweight champ Jon Jones in late 2026 or early 2027 in the U.S. Jones, who last fought in November 2024, has never boxed professionally but recently said he’s interested in trying it. “I’ve really wanted to box,” he shared in May. “If I focus on my hands, combos, and punching power, I think I’d really surprise a lot of people.”
Right after Usyk gave up his belts, promoter Eddie Hearn shared his thoughts. When asked if he was surprised by Usyk wanting to fight Wilder, Hearn told DAZN, “I think he’ll just go for the best deal. He’s said before he wants Wilder on his resume. I was surprised; I thought he might rematch Rico, but then I realized…
“Whatever Usyk’s next fight is, it probably won’t be for a world heavyweight title – maybe a different kind of belt. If it’s Usyk vs. Rico and the title isn’t at stake, part of the excitement is that if Rico wins, he becomes world champ.
“But honestly, it’s good for the division since now we’ll probably see three or four different champions, which will be really interesting,” Hearn added.