Boxing Mar 17, 2026

Oleksandr Usyk: Unified heavyweight world champion expects the 'last dance' of his career to come against Tyson Fury

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Oleksandr Usyk: Unified heavyweight world champion expects the 'last dance' of his career to come against Tyson Fury

Oleksandr Usyk, the unified heavyweight world champion, wants to have his final fight against Tyson Fury.

The rivalry between Usyk and Fury has already stretched over two fights. Usyk beat Fury to become the undisputed heavyweight world champion in 2024 and then repeated a victory over Fury in their rematch later that year.

Fury subsequently retired for the entirety of 2025 but has returned to the sport. The former world titlist could be on a collision course for a third fight with Usyk.

The heavyweight champion expects that to be the final fight of his career. "In my head, Tyson Fury, it's the last dance," Usyk told Associated Press.

Both of Usyk's fights with Fury were in Riyadh, though it's unclear whether they'd conclude their trilogy in Saudi Arabia. The Iran war has caused disruption in the Middle East. Formula 1 for instance is set to call off the Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia in April due to the conflict.

"Given the situation currently unfolding in the world, my task is simply to be ready for what I am preparing for," Usyk said regarding fighting again in Saudi Arabia. "Then the organisers will decide where it can be held - where they can stage this show so that it is safe for all participants and spectators."

The Ukrainian is due to defend his WBC title against kickboxing superstar Rico Verhoeven in Egypt in May.

The 39-year-old has stated that he would like to fight the winner of Fabio Wardley's WBO championship clash with Daniel Dubois after that before closing out his career against Fury.

Frank Warren, who promotes Fury, Wardley and Dubois, previously told Your Site: "We're up for that.

"There's a lot of frustration because Fabio wanted that [Usyk fight before]. But the fact that Oleksandr has come out and said he wants the winner of the two of them, it's very encouraging. And certainly for the two guys, it gives them a lot of incentive.

"We've got a great relationship with him and if we can do some business we'll certainly do it."

Usyk is a great champion, who represents Ukraine on the world stage. A London 2012, Olympic gold medallist, he's been undisputed at cruiserweight, twice at heavyweight and has never lost a professional fight.

He is resolute that the sporting world shouldn't soften its line on Russian participation since Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine.

At the Winter Paralympic Games Russian athletes have been allowed to compete under their country's flag.

Usyk has urged the International Olympic Committee not to follow suit. "My opinion has not changed - this should not be happening," he told Associated Press. "People who support the killing of others, the bombing of civilian cities, hospitals, schools, and everything else should not have the right to take part in the Olympic Games.

"The Olympic Games were created as games of peace," he continued. "But now someone who kills on another person's orders and launches missiles at another country is allowed to take part in sport - that is complete absurdity.

"If somebody is even following the orders of his commander-in-chief to go and fight, then they cannot also go to sports competitions and represent their country there. Let them continue being a soldier. Because in the evening they are killing, and in the morning they compete as athletes. That simply doesn't add up."

Tags:

boxing news

Share this article

Related Posts

Emanuel Navarrete stops Eduardo Nunez to unify super-featherweight world titles

Emanuel Navarrete stops Eduardo Nunez to unify super-featherweight world titles

Emanuel Navarrete stopped Eduardo Nunez before the start of the 11th round to unify the WBO and IBF super-featherweight titles in Arizona on Saturday...

Jai Opetaia: Now Chris Billam-Smith doesn’t have a belt he wants to fight! I’ve never hand-picked a fight

Jai Opetaia: Now Chris Billam-Smith doesn’t have a belt he wants to fight! I’ve never hand-picked a fight

Jai Opetaia won’t move up to heavyweight until he has cleaned up the cruiserweight division.Already viewed as the world's leading 200lber, with his bl...

When Tyson Fury sparred 'King of Kickboxing' Rico Verhoeven, Oleksandr Usyk's shock next opponent - new footage found

When Tyson Fury sparred 'King of Kickboxing' Rico Verhoeven, Oleksandr Usyk's shock next opponent - new footage found

Your Site has unearthed previously unseen footage of Rico Verhoeven, the shock opponent for , sparring with Tyson Fury who was then on the cusp of sta...

Amy Broadhurst: The new mother on returning to GB to chase Olympic glory, beating Imane Khelif and being 'Baby Canelo'

Amy Broadhurst: The new mother on returning to GB to chase Olympic glory, beating Imane Khelif and being 'Baby Canelo'

Amy Broadhurst, the Irish world champion who switched to GB, has returned to the gym to resume her pursuit of Olympic glory.Broadhurst is coming back...

Alycia Baumgardner to defend unified super-featherweight titles against Bo Mi Re Shin over 10 three-minute rounds

Alycia Baumgardner to defend unified super-featherweight titles against Bo Mi Re Shin over 10 three-minute rounds

Alycia Baumgardner will fight top contender Bo Mi Re Shin over 10 three-minute rounds, the same round length as in men’s boxing, in New York City on A...

Richard Riakporhe to fight Jeamie TKV for British heavyweight title on Tyson Fury vs Aslanbek Makhmudov undercard

Richard Riakporhe to fight Jeamie TKV for British heavyweight title on Tyson Fury vs Aslanbek Makhmudov undercard

Richard Riakporhe will fight Jeamie TKV for the British heavyweight title on the undercard of Tyson Fury’s comeback.Fury returns to boxing after a yea...