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The road ahead for Oleksandr Usyk after Daniel Dubois rematch
Oleksandr Usyk will face Daniel Dubois in a rematch, this time for the undisputed heavyweight titles. If he is victorious, James Hicken asks, what is next for the Ukrainian?
Oleksandr Usyk will enter the ring on Saturday hoping to become a three-time undisputed champion against Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium.
The Ukrainian has had a near-perfect professional career. He became undisputed cruiserweight champion in 17 fights and undisputed heavyweight champion in a further seven.
But should he beat Dubois for a second time, what remains for Usyk? He has made it clear he does not have long left in the sport and his next fight could be his last.
So what would be the perfect final flourish for arguably one of the greatest heavyweights of all time?
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Tyson Fury trilogy
Although Usyk has already beaten Tyson Fury twice, there are no more prizes for Usyk to collect, and this would surely be one of the biggest paydays the Ukrainian could bag before retiring.
The pair fought to a tight split decision in their first encounter last year for the undisputed titles. Usyk then put the rivalry to bed by claiming a unanimous decision later that year.
Most thought this was the end of the rivalry between the two as a trilogy would serve to prove nothing, even if Fury won, as Usyk would be the overall victor anyway.
But Fury announced his comeback from retirement earlier this month and seemed to confirm a trilogy fight between himself and the undefeated heavyweight champion.
At an event in Turkey, Fury told the media that the only fight he wants to come back for is Usyk.
Fury said: “Who would I rather fight now? Usyk. Because I want my revenge in England. That's all I want, I want my fair shout and I don't believe I've got a fair shout the last two times."
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Usyk had the chance to address these rumours ahead of his fight with Daniel Dubois and was just as confused as everyone else at Fury’s fight announcement, but didn’t write it off as a possibility.
Usyk told The Stomping ground: “I don’t judge Tyson Fury. But I don’t know what’s going on.”
He added: “We have a fight in 2026? You crazy guy! After the fight [against Dubois], we speak about it.”
Despite that chapter seemingly being closed, another fight and another win against Fury would be a perfect way to cap off Usyk's career – having beaten one of the best of this generation of heavyweights three times.
Anthony Joshua trilogy
There is another trilogy on the cards for Usyk, albeit less likely than Fury. Anthony Joshua is on the road to recovery after minor elbow surgery and is looking for his next fight.
Joshua and his promoter Eddie Hearn have not mentioned a third fight with Usyk since he lost to Dubois last year, but if AJ can make a successful return, it will be on their radar.
Usyk has been quoted as open to a third fight with AJ, saying that he would not deny the man who gave him two good fights and helped him become a household name in boxing.
Usyk told Mail Sport before his rematch with Tyson Fury: “I have no right to deny Anthony a third fight because he gave me two incredible fights.”
He continued: “Anthony helped me become even more famous in the world, and if it happens, then I am ready for a third fight.”
This offer was predicated on Joshua beating Dubois, which, of course, did not happen, and Joshua now appears he be pursuing a fight with Tyson Fury instead.
Jospeh Parker
Suppose Usyk beats Dubois and intends to keep hold of his undisputed titles before he retires. In that case, the politics of boxing dictates he will have to fight his mandatory challenger – the big Kiwi and training partner of Tyson Fury, Joseph Parker.
Parker is the WBO interim champion and has been since he knocked out Martin Bakole, who was a late replacement for Dubois, on the undercard of Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol 2 in February.
The intricacies and parliamentary procedure between governing bodies is often not public information, but Frank Warren, speaking to Seconds Out, explained that no matter who wins on Saturday, Joseph Parker will be the mandatory challenger for at least the WBO title.
Warren said: “The first one is the WBO. They [the governing bodies] alternate, and the next one is the WBO, which is Joe Parker.”
He concluded: “He is the mandatory, and we will see what happens.”
It might not be the big money, blockbuster fight Usyk is looking for to round out his career, but if he wishes to retire as undisputed, he may have to defend against Parker.
Cruiserweight return
This is perhaps more fantastical, but a return to cruiserweight is something that Usyk is on record as having considered.
Ahead of his rematch with Fury last year, the former undisputed cruiserweight champion told the 3 Knockdown Rule podcast that he would like to fight at cruiserweight again and try to become undisputed for a second time.
Usyk said: “I want more [fights at] cruiserweight. Maybe I can be undisputed for a second time in the cruiserweight division, it's my plan. When I start to prepare for my training camp [as a heavyweight], I have to eat all the time. For me it's hard, I don't like it."
A return to cruiserweight looks less and less likely as he came in at a career heaviest 224lbs against Fury and looks to be even bigger for his fight with Dubois. He would also have to unify the belts at cruiserweight, which would require at least three more fights.
Badou Jack, Jai Opetaia and Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramriez are the three kings of the cruiserweight division currently.
Retirement
At 38 years old and on the verge of becoming a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion, Usyk could not be blamed for calling time on his career while still at the very pinnacle of the sport.
Speaking to DAZN ahead of his rematch with Dubois, Usyk admitted that he is in the closing stages of his career and that he will fight Dubois, then have one more fight.
Usyk said: “I guess it’s my two last fights. With Dubois. Next, I don’t know who."
If a good fight does not materialise for Usyk, then retirement is a more than viable option as he will have nothing left to prove should he beat Dubois on Saturday.
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