Oleksandr Usyk is planning one final fight before retirement. The undisputed heavyweight king says he will face either Tyson Fury or Deontay Wilder for his “last dance,” aiming for a huge stadium event in the United States to close his historic career.
The Ukrainian icon, now 39, feels his powers are fading following an unconvincing win over Rico Verhoeven. Having conquered both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions, he is ready to walk away. But not before one last blockbuster night. Usyk confirmed the plan, stating: “‘Last Dance’ is [going to be in the] U.S.A. maybe in New York, [in a] stadium. It’s [going to be against] a big name.”
He left no room for doubt about who qualifies. When asked to name the big hitters on his list, Usyk was blunt. He wants a trilogy with his old rival or a fresh war with a knockout artist. “[Big names are] ‘Greedy Belly’ [Tyson Fury] and Deontay Wilder. We work about this,” he revealed. A third fight with Fury would settle their rivalry for good, while a clash with Wilder offers a classic boxer versus puncher matchup.
But the choice may already be made for him. With Fury reportedly set to face Anthony Joshua in November, the timeline makes a trilogy bout almost impossible for Usyk’s preferred December date. This leaves Deontay ‘The Bronze Bomber’ Wilder as the clear and most likely candidate for the farewell fight. Rumours are already swirling that the bout could be for a Zuffa Boxing world title, but Usyk is staying out of the politics. “I cannot say about this [whether I will fight under the Zuffa banner] because now my team work about my next fight. It’s Zuffa, [then it’s] not Zuffa,” he said.
The champion’s mind is on preparation, not promotion. He is focused entirely on the physical grind required for one last camp. “Now, I [do] not think about boxing. I think about training for boxing; cardio? Of course. Cross-fight? Of course. Swimming pool? No. Sauna? Yes. Rest, time with my family, with my child.” For Usyk, the end is near, and it looks set to be an explosive one stateside.
