Usyk’s Future Plans in Boxing
Ukrainian heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk has revealed exciting plans regarding his future in the ring, indicating that his matchup against kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven could be just the beginning of his last few fights before he hangs up his gloves. Usyk, who holds the WBC, WBA, and IBF titles, is set to defend his WBC belt in a unique clash against Verhoeven on May 23, with the backdrop of the historic pyramids of Giza.
Upcoming Fights and Contenders
This fight serves as a voluntary title defense, and Usyk is expected to be required to defend it against a mandatory challenger afterward. The WBC president, Mauricio Sulaiman, has suggested that Agit Kabayel might be up next for Usyk post-Verhoeven, but the champion has other contenders in mind.
“First up is Rico, and then I’m looking at the winner of the Wardley-Dubois match for my second fight. The third will be against my friend, Tyson Fury, the so-called ‘greedy belly,'” Usyk stated in an interview with The Ring magazine.
The referenced bout between Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois is set to occur on May 9 in Manchester. Wardley was elevated to WBO champion in November, vacating Usyk’s previous title after claiming the interim belt. Dubois, who has faced Usyk twice before, suffered defeats at the hands of the Ukrainian in 2023 and last July.
In addition, Tyson Fury, who experienced two losses to Usyk in 2024, will make a return to boxing on April 11 against Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after announcing his retirement following the second Usyk fight. Despite his hiatus, Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, insists on the heavyweight champion’s eagerness for a trilogy fight with Usyk.
Respect for Verhoeven and the Challenge Ahead
Addressing the matchup with Verhoeven, Usyk noted,
“I have great respect for those who reach the highest levels in their sport. Rico exemplifies this as he’s indeed the king of kickboxing. This is boxing, a different sport altogether with distinct rules and ‘kings.'”
For his part, Verhoeven expressed his motivation for the challenge, having spent over a decade as the undisputed heavyweight champion in kickboxing.
“I’ve always sought the toughest challenges, and Usyk’s status in boxing is what drives me – it’s undisputed facing undisputed,” he remarked.
Usyk’s Historic Achievements
Usyk, who once ruled as the undisputed cruiserweight champion, made history as the first fighter to achieve undisputed heavyweight champion status in 24 years after defeating Fury for the first time. After relinquishing the IBF title for a rematch with Fury, Usyk regained the belt by winning against Dubois, affirming his status once again as a unified champion after vacating the WBO title in November.
With a pivotal fight against Verhoeven on the horizon, Usyk’s planned trajectory points toward an exciting conclusion to his illustrious boxing career, which could see him face some of the sport’s biggest names before retiring from active competition.
