Oleksandr Usyk has 38 years, 24 professional fights and 350 amateur duels under his belt as a boxer. No wonder the undisputed heavyweight king has set an expiration date for his unique career. But Usyk is now moving away from that – Germany’s boxing star Agit Kabayel will be happy to hear that.
Even before he knocked out Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium on July 19 and unified all recognized heavyweight championship belts for the second time in a year, Oleksandr Usyk had laid out his retirement plan.
He still has two fights left in the tank, “only two,” the Ukrainian told “Sky Sports” at the beginning of the year. Now that Dubois is on file, that would actually mean: one more appearance and then career sunset.
In an interview with the Ukrainian news agency “UNN”, Usyk has now moved away from this. “I’ll box until I’m 41. And then I’ll set up a sports academy and train there,” he said.
Video: Exclusive: Kabayel challenges Usyk
Usyk turns 39 on February 17 (Muhammad Ali’s birthday). The southpaw has been heavyweight world champion for four years, and in 2024 he unified all four world titles with a victory over Tyson Fury, whom he also defeated in a rematch.
In the summer, with the knockout triumph over Dubois, he regained the IBF title, which he had relinquished in the meantime, and was once again crowned undisputed heavyweight world champion.
Boxing: Usyk wants to continue – will Kabayel have a chance?
The world association WBO has committed Usyk to defend the association’s title next year against the winner of the duel between Joseph Parker (New Zealand/WBO interim champion) and Fabio Wardley (England) on October 25th. But it is also possible that the Ukrainian will give up one of his four belts in order to fight more financially lucrative fights.
“I can’t say who I will be in the ring against because negotiations are ongoing,” revealed the world champion. “I would make a fool of you if I gave a name.”
He trains every day “with the goal of getting into the ring next year and – with God’s help – winning,” Usyk continued.
Germany’s boxing star Agit Kabayel will be happy to hear that. The Bochum native is interim world champion with the WBC association and as such is Usyk’s mandatory challenger. Kabayel has so far waited in vain for a title fight against the world champion.
Video: Agit Kabayel shows RTL his WBC gold
He expects Usyk to end his career in 2026, the “Leberking” recently said in his YouTube vlog. However, Usyk sounds different now. Maybe Kabayel will get his World Cup chance next year.
The 33-year-old will climb the rope square again in Oberhausen on January 10th. The opponent has not yet been determined.