Read NV on Google
Oleksandr Usyk (Photo: Reuters)
The 39-year-old former undisputed heavyweight champion plans to retire, but first wants to step into the ring one last time.
Usyk relinquished all of his championship belts in June, freeing himself from mandatory title defenses and allowing him to choose his final opponent.
The Ukrainian has described the bout as his “last dance,” signaling that it will be the final fight of his professional career.
But who will Usyk share the ring with for that last dance?
His preferred opponent is Deontay Wilder.
Usyk named the former WBC heavyweight champion in June, saying he wanted the fight to take place in December in New York. However, the two teams have yet to enter substantive negotiations.
Wilder, 40, held the WBC heavyweight title from 2015 to 2020 and defeated 10 opponents in world championship bouts.
The American also recorded 32 consecutive knockout victories from the start of his professional career. His recent record has been far less dominant, however, with five wins in his last 10 fights.
Usyk has spoken about fighting Wilder before, but a bout never materialized. There is no guarantee the sides will reach an agreement this time either.
Rico Verhoeven rematch
If negotiations with Wilder fail, a rematch with Rico Verhoeven could be another attractive option.
The Dutch kickboxer gave Usyk a competitive fight in May before losing by knockout with one second remaining in the 11th round.
Verhoeven has repeatedly expressed interest in a rematch, and another meeting would likely generate significant interest among fans.
Fury trilogy
A third fight with Tyson Fury is another possibility.
Usyk won both of their previous bouts, although each was competitive.
BKB (Bare Knuckle Boxing) CEO David Tetreault recently said he was prepared to organize a bare-knuckle fight between Usyk and Fury.
Tetreault said he had already spoken with representatives of both fighters and had not received a categorical rejection.
A bare-knuckle bout appears unlikely, but a conventional boxing trilogy remains possible.
Fury had been planning a fight against Anthony Joshua in the United States, but the two sides have yet to reach an agreement.
The military war may be swinging in our favor, but the information war continues.
Just as an army needs soldiers, so does a free society need its journalists to ensure that people have access to honest, trustworthy voices to understand the world around them.
For the past five years, The New Voice of Ukraine has been working tirelessly to push back against Russian narratives and defend democracy. But we cannot do it alone.
Please consider supporting us on Patreon for just $5 a month – your donation does directly to supporting journalists and ensuring that this front of the infowar says solid and defended.
Thank you.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
