Oleksandr Usyk reverses plans for retirement

[Taansend]

Usyk fighting Fury a 3rd time after beating clean twice already is like Fury fighting Chisora a 3rd time.

Am I the only one who thought Fury won 6 rounds in the first bout with just the knockdown being the difference on points?

[gilgamesh]

Even if that were the case. He already had his rematch and lost again.

[KiwiRider]

Usyk fighting Fury a 3rd time after beating clean twice already is like Fury fighting Chisora a 3rd time.

Am I the only one who thought Fury won 6 rounds in the first bout with just the knockdown being the difference on points?

Yes.
The general consensus on the RBR was a clear win for Uysk.

[mickey1975]

Most people thought Usyk won. A few thought a draw or a Fury win. I had the knockdown the difference. The thing is, Dubios got completely outclassed and he was supposedly the best challenger. I think Fury would prefer this fight to the AJ one because, whatever he says, he is really bothered by boxing history and would love to retire having beaten everyone he's faced. Sadly, I think his chance went in the first fight.

[MasterG]

Why cant boxer walk away anymore?

Turning away Saudi cash?

[deadpan]

He really wants a Ukraine homecoming. Can't blame him for that.
Only bent scorecards can stop him retiring undefeated.

[MightyWarrior]

Will be a massive anti-climatic come down for the man from Ukraine taking on any of those palookas.

The only fight that will really get the pulses racing as a spectacular showpiece would be Moses, even though it’s a mismatch.
As the unbeaten punching machine is taking on a mythical reputation at the minute, like the next coming of Mike Tyson. Only problem is even Tyson would’nt have beaten Usyk, and Moses isn’t as good as Tyson.

[Taansend]

Most people thought Usyk won. A few thought a draw or a Fury win. I had the knockdown the difference.

OK, good. So I'm not the only one

If I remember I had Usyk winning 6 rounds clear enough, Fury winning 5 rounds clear enough with one round that could have gone either way (I went with a soft Fury).

I definitely didn't think it was a clear win for Usyk although I did have him up by a point.

Funnily enough, if you look at the scoring on Boxrec the judges had the first fight close & the 2nd fight clear for Usyk while the fans had the first fight clear for Usyk but the 2nd one close.

[gilgamesh]

He really wants a Ukraine homecoming. Can't blame him for that.
Only bent scorecards can stop him retiring undefeated.

I would never say that about a 38 year old man in a young man's game.

Any number of things can get him beaten at some point over the next 3 years.

[londonwar]

1. Kabayel
2. Parker or Wardley
3. whoever has the best run out of Itauma/Bakole/Torrez/Ejagba

this is the order, and theres nothing much wrong with that.

however, Kabayel is reduced to one fight a year atm which is just not right

also Chisora, Okolie and Pulev are stinking the division out

[Ruthless-RKO]

OLEKSANDR USYK WANTS PARKER-WARDLEY WINNER NEXT, TYSON FURY CHAPTER 'CLOSED'

Oleksandr Usyk is targeting a return in the first half of 2026 with Saturday's winner of Joseph Parker-Fabio Wardley the front-runner for a shot at the world heavyweight champion, Usyk’s advisor, Serhii Lapin, tells The Ring.

Whoever emerges victorious Saturday in London will be the WBO mandatory for Usyk, one of four titles the Ukrainian owns in addition to The Ring’s heavyweight championship.

The WBO is next in the rotation system used for unified champions, and the mandatory defense was ordered in July but delayed due to Usyk’s back injury.

Lapin said Usyk’s recovery from the back injury is “going great” after he recently competed a “rehabilitation camp.”

“He feels good and in excellent shape,” Lapin said.

Usyk, 38, was noncommittal about fighting again after he stopped Daniel Dubois a second time in July, but last week said he planned to fight until age 41.

Lapin believes Usyk has perhaps five more fights remaining, but that a third fight with Tyson Fury isn’t likely one of them.

The Gypsy King has been pushed for a trilogy bout next year after losing twice to Usyk in 2024, but Lapin doesn’t see any reason for such a bout. After all, Usyk is 2-0 against Fury and the rematch was more decisive than the first meeting.

”Theoretically, it’s an interesting option, but for whom?” Lapin asked. “If boxing fans truly support it, then maybe. However, in my opinion, that chapter is already closed.”

Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) made headlines when he appeared to rule out a future fight with rising star Moses Itauma, but Lapin said the matchup is a possibility - just not right now.

Itauma, 20, is unproven at this juncture. He’s coming off a first-round TKO of Dillian Whyte in August. And while he’s clearly talented and many believe the next great heavyweight, he’ll need to prove it against a legitimate top-10 heavyweight before Usyk considers him.

“I wouldn’t say he doesn’t want to fight Itauma,” Lappin said. “He’s a promising fighter, and his team has done a good job bringing him to this level and ranking. But if we analyze the heavyweight division, besides Usyk, there are plenty of top fighters.

“Itauma still needs a serious test before facing a legend. Have we seen him go the full 12-round distance? Has has been in dangerous situations in the ring? My answer is no. At this stage, he doesn’t have the tools to beat Usyk.”

[Taansend]

1. Kabayel
2. Parker or Wardley
3. whoever has the best run out of Itauma/Bakole/Torrez/Ejagba

I can't see Bakole doing anything significant.

Unless they make a movie about his sparring session where he punched a man so hard he landed on Jupiter.

[CaptainSpacerod]

And honestly. Let's be real here. Usyk continuing to fight and earning potentially 100 million more dollars if not more is worth a lot more to him and his than schmucks like us considering him the 6th or 7th best Heavyweight of all time or whatever.

Spot on, he’s a prizefighter after all and one with perhaps more motivation than any other boxer past or present

He won’t be high rolling his way through big chunks of that $100m, he’ll spend it on helping his countrymen to rebuild their lives

[cfang]

I wish he’d retire. Such a great fighter but risks a slight tarnish to his legacy if he’s not careful.

[big lennox]

I wish he’d retire. Such a great fighter but risks a slight tarnish to his legacy if he’s not careful.

My thoughts entirely.

[jamesmcdonnell]

I wish he’d retire. Such a great fighter but risks a slight tarnish to his legacy if he’s not careful.

My thoughts entirely.

Same here. Why bother at this point, he's proven everything he needs to prove.

[jamesmcdonnell]

And honestly. Let's be real here. Usyk continuing to fight and earning potentially 100 million more dollars if not more is worth a lot more to him and his than schmucks like us considering him the 6th or 7th best Heavyweight of all time or whatever.

Spot on, he’s a prizefighter after all and one with perhaps more motivation than any other boxer past or present

He won’t be high rolling his way through big chunks of that $100m, he’ll spend it on helping his countrymen to rebuild their lives

How much is enough? Surely he's long surpassed the point where he really needs more money.

No matter how much he earns, it won't be anywhere near enough to repair the damage done to Ukraine and its countrymen.

[golden_labrador]

I can't see Bakole doing anything significant.

Unless they make a movie about his sparring session where he punched a man so hard he landed on Jupiter.

[goose 5]

If Usyk fights till he's 41 he'll have to duck Itauma cause he's going to be the mandatory in the near future .

[Taansend]

I wish he’d retire. Such a great fighter but risks a slight tarnish to his legacy if he’s not careful.

My thoughts entirely.

Same here. Why bother at this point, he's proven everything he needs to prove.

Does it really matter to Boxing fans though?

When you last had a conversation about Ali, did you mention the loss to Berbick? When you think of Sugar Ray Leonard do you remember the losses to Norris & Camacho?

Or the fights against Benitez, Duran, Hearns & Hagler.

I get what you're all saying. But how many of us, in regards to favouritism, rank Hearns over Mayweather? Or Nigel Benn over Sven Ottke? When we look back, we remember the good times.

[gilgamesh]

My thoughts entirely.

Same here. Why bother at this point, he's proven everything he needs to prove.

Does it really matter to Boxing fans though?

When you last had a conversation about Ali, did you mention the loss to Berbick? When you think of Sugar Ray Leonard do you remember the losses to Norris & Camacho?

Or the fights against Benitez, Duran, Hearns & Hagler.

I get what you're all saying. But how many of us, in regards to favouritism, rank Hearns over Mayweather? Or Nigel Benn over Sven Ottke? When we look back, we remember the good times.

Camacho is one thing, but Leonard's loss to Norris shouldn't be excused as him being past his prime. He was 34.

We have 2 current people in the Top 3 P4P who are older than that.

[Taansend]

Same here. Why bother at this point, he's proven everything he needs to prove.

Does it really matter to Boxing fans though?

When you last had a conversation about Ali, did you mention the loss to Berbick? When you think of Sugar Ray Leonard do you remember the losses to Norris & Camacho?

Or the fights against Benitez, Duran, Hearns & Hagler.

I get what you're all saying. But how many of us, in regards to favouritism, rank Hearns over Mayweather? Or Nigel Benn over Sven Ottke? When we look back, we remember the good times.

Camacho is one thing, but Leonard's loss to Norris shouldn't be excused as him being past his prime. He was 34.

We have 2 current people in the Top 3 P4P who are older than that.

True but 34 in 1991 is similar to about 38 nowadays.

That might sound weird but look at the average age of the top fighters then compared to now. 30 was often considered the beginning of the end. Now it's the start of the prime for Welter & above.

[Taansend]

Funnily enough I remember one of the US boxing mags had a photo of Leonard & Norris face to face on its cover & I was thinking that Norris fists & wrists looked twice the size of Leonards & that's why I thought he would win

Strange that I can vividly remember a boxer magazine cover from 35 years ago but can't remember what I wore on Sunday

[gilgamesh]

Does it really matter to Boxing fans though?

When you last had a conversation about Ali, did you mention the loss to Berbick? When you think of Sugar Ray Leonard do you remember the losses to Norris & Camacho?

Or the fights against Benitez, Duran, Hearns & Hagler.

I get what you're all saying. But how many of us, in regards to favouritism, rank Hearns over Mayweather? Or Nigel Benn over Sven Ottke? When we look back, we remember the good times.

Camacho is one thing, but Leonard's loss to Norris shouldn't be excused as him being past his prime. He was 34.

We have 2 current people in the Top 3 P4P who are older than that.

True but 34 in 1991 is similar to about 38 nowadays.

That might sound weird but look at the average age of the top fighters then compared to now. 30 was often considered the beginning of the end. Now it's the start of the prime for Welter & above.

Well at 38 Crawford and Usyk are Top 3 Pound for Pound. So at 38 they were better than Leonard at 34.

Leonard was a lesser fighter at 34 because of the Cocaine 80's and a lot of inactivity I think more than age itself.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Dnuh if anyone knows truly how hard this is.