Oleksandr Usyk has revealed how many fights he has left before retirement and picked his winner for Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua.
An era of invincible dominance from the masterful Ukrainian means there aren’t many challenges left in front of him. In the seven years since he conquered and left the cruiserweight ranks, he has systematically cleaned out the division, doing what no other fighter has done in history in being crowned heavyweight boxing’s undisputed king twice.
With Olympic gold from London 2012 also part of his collection, the 39-year-old has accomplished everything he set out to achieve in the sport. So what’s left?
‘I think maybe around two more fights. At least, this is my plan,’ Usyk said.
‘So we don’t stop. We keep boxing. But in general, everything is in God’s hands. ’ His latest test comes this Saturday against Rico Verhoeven, a novice of the sweet science having made his name in the world of kickboxing.
While the choice of opponent raised some eyebrows, many will argue Usyk has earned the right to do exactly what he wants.
‘One time I want to do what I want, not what I need,’ he said. Usyk’s influence reaches across boxing with one man he twice went to war with now a friend. Four years on from their last battle, he and Joshua have struck up a close relationship with the Briton joining Usyk’s team in Spain, sharpening the tools and going through the training that helped make the Ukrainian the best in the world.
With boxing so often a divided and bitter environment, it has been a refreshing union. After losing two of his closest friends in Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele in that fatal car crash days after Christmas, Joshua has found some solace in the company of Usyk, who has provided him with invaluable support as he bids to get his career back on track..
After the devastating loss of his friends, two men at his side in every training camp over the years, Joshua has found another brother in Usyk who has seen the fire in Joshua’s eyes still burns.
‘I see his work every day in the training camp. I see his focus, I see his discipline, and I see big motivation inside him. He is not finished — no, no. He still has a lot of fire. ’ Taking users inside the mind and regime of the three-time undisputed champion, 'Uysk Mode' seeks to shift learners away from short-lived motivation and toward long-term consistency.
– a supportive, focused conversation partner that encourages learners to speak, make mistakes, and keep going. The 'Discipline by Usyk' course also has a structured program based on the champion's real training philosophy, adapted for language learning and long-term progress.
'Being able to understand and speak a foreign language — English specifically — allowed me to connect more with friends, athletes, and fellow boxers,' Usyk said. 'I began to understand people who were my childhood idols, people I used to watch on TV, wondering what they were saying. People like Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, or Cristiano Ronaldo — everyone wants to talk to or take a photo with these greats. We are friends now, and we understand each other.
' Joshua or Fury has been the eternal debate that has divided boxing for the best part of a decade. They will be 37 and 38 respectively when they do finally step in the ring towards the end of the year but Usyk has no doubts over who will settle things once and for all.
‘My friend AJ can win this fight. I believe in him,’ he said.
‘AJ has everything to win. And from our side, my team and I will help him with his preparation. I always tell him: “AJ, my brother, I am here for you. Anything I can do to help, I will.
”‘While the end of road might not be far off, the job isn’t done yet. Usyk is wary of the threat posed by his next opponent Verhoeven and understandably, isn’t casting his eye too much further down the line. But there will be no shortage of challengers, both old and new, looking to become the first man to solve the puzzle. While a trilogy with Joshua is now very unlikely, Usyk would entertain a third showdown with ‘The Gypsy King’.
Another meetingwould also set up the opportunity to become undisputed for a fourth time, although there is growing pressure from the other governing bodies with Agit Kabayel next in line for the WBC title. But whatever is next, his legacy in the sport is cemented. When the time finally does come to make his way down to the ring one final time, he will do it with pure peace of mind before he says goodbye.
‘We can make our plans, we can think it will be this way or that way, but the Lord always has His own plan. The opponent is not the most important thing,’ Usyk said.
‘A perfect final fight is not only about the opponent. The most important thing is that it’s a good fight, a beautiful fight, and I leave the ring with peace in my heart. And then I can say: thank you, boxing. So let’s move step by step.
For now, my focus is on the upcoming fight on May 23. ’0:25 Already serving as a mentor and friend to Joshua, Usyk’s role has reached out far beyond the boxing ropes. His success has come amid a backdrop of war at home withwith the boxer serving as an perpetual symbol of hope for Ukraine.
His second bout with Joshua came just six months after the Russian invasion with his ambitions in the sport and in life taking on new significance since then. Who is Noah Price? Everything you need to know about Venezuela Fury's new husbandTruth behind Tommy Fury's no-show at Venezuela's wedding attended by pregnant Molly-Mae ‘Titles are part of history, they are important, yes. But titles are not everything.
I want to do more for boxing and for people. For me, this is also my legacy,’ Usyk said.
‘Together with my promotional company, Usyk 17 Promotion, we want to help young boxers: give them support, give them opportunities, and help them achieve their dreams. Together with Usyk Foundation, we want to support Ukrainian defenders, and all the people who have suffered because of this war. Together with Promova App, we want to help boxers, athletes, and people in general learn languages and open up new opportunities in their work and professional careers.
‘Boxing is my tool. Titles are confirmation that we are moving in the right direction. But I am not only a boxer, and not only an athlete. I am a father, a husband, a Ukrainian, and a person who wants to do something good for people.
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