Oleksandr Usyk will fight in July or August 2025 to defend his unified heavyweight title. He defeated former WBC champion Tyson Fury by a 12-round unanimous decision in their rematch last Saturday night in Riyadh.
The fight was easier for Usyk than their previous match because Fury chose to weigh in at 281 lbs and was too heavy to do much in the fight.
Tyson looked up poor physical condition as if he will make an effort in training camp in preparation for the return. It was embarrassing to watch, and it should have been embarrassing for his fans. You could tell by looking at Fury’s place that he had eaten well at camp.
Who’s Next?
Usyk’s manager, Egis Klimas, told Boxingscene that Oleksander (23-0, 14 KOs) will be out until next summer. There is no word on who Usyk could face next. These are interesting options for Usyk to make a voluntary defense:
– Agit Kabayel
– Moses Itauma
– Fabio Wardley
– Martin Bakole
British fans are talking It’s thundering after his win over runner Demsey McKean last Saturday. If Itauma’s promoter believes in him, he should test his faith by comparing him to Usyk while he was still playing. If they wait, Usyk will retire, and Itauma will be stuck without words.
Time may tell that a unification bout with IBF champion Daniel Dubois is not an option for Usyk’s next fight. Dubois defends his belt against Joseph Parker on February 22, and it would be a quick transition for him to return to camp to begin training for the match against Usyk in July or August.
The 27-year-old Dubois is still young enough to return to the ring quickly, but he won’t be at his peak because it will take time for him to prepare for Usyk’s style. He can’t do it in a short cram session during training camp.
If Dubois rushes into the fight against the talented Ukrainian, he could live to regret it and suffer another knockout loss like in their first fight last year on August 26 in Wroclaw, Poland. Usyk battered Dubois in the eighth round and then dropped him in the ninth to knock out the tired giant.
Like the first one, it wasn’t a punishing fight for Usyk, as he defeated Fury (34-2-1, 24 KOs), taking advantage of his immobility to finish him off with combinations.
He showed that the Gypsy King has lost a lot of his game in the last four years, tired of his three fights against ‘The Bronze Bomber’ Deontay Wilder.
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