Oleksandr Usyk will fight in July or August 2025 to defend his unified heavyweight title. He beat former WBC champion Tyson Fury by a 12-round unanimous decision in their rematch on Saturday night in Riyadh.
The fight was easier for Usyk than his previous match due to Fury choosing to bulk up 281 lbs and being too heavy to do much of anything in the fight.
Tyson looked up bad physical shape as if he had made a symbolic effort in the training camp preparing for the rematch. It was embarrassing to watch, and must have been disappointing for his fans. You could tell by looking at Fury’s midsection that he had eaten well during camp.
Who is next?
Usyk’s manager Egis Klimas told Boxingscene that Oleksander (23-0, 14 KOs) will rest until next summer. There is no word on who Usyk might face next. These interesting options for Usyk to make a voluntary defense:
– Acts Kabaiel
– Moses Itauma
– Fabio Wardley
– Martin Bakole
British fans are speaking out It will hurt us following his win over youngster Demsey McKean on Saturday night. If Itauma’s promoter believes in him, he should put his faith to the test by pairing him against Usyk while he’s still in the game. If they wait, Usyk will retire, and Itauma will be stuck fighting no names.
The timing could mean that a unification match against 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 turn for him to return to the field to begin training for a match against Usyk in July or August.
Dubois, 27, is young enough to get back in the ring quickly, but he won’t be at his best because he will need time to prepare for Usyk’s style. Can’t do with a short cram session during training camp.
If Dubois rushes into the fight against the Ukrainian talent, he could live to regret it and suffer another KO loss, as he did in his first fight last year on August 26 in Wroclaw, Poland. Usyk boxed Dubois through eight rounds and then poured on the ninth round to knock out the tired giant.
Like the first, it wasn’t a punishing fight for Usyk, as he overcame Fury (34-2-1, 24 KO), taking advantage of his limited mobility to work with combinations.
It showed that the gypsy king has lost a lot of his game in the last four years, removed from his three fights against “The Bronze Bomber” Deontay Wilder.
