The Oleksandr Usyk next fight news should arrive later this year. Until then, we’ll consider three potential opponents and recap his recent outing last Saturday.
Who will Oleksandr Usyk’s next fight be against?
Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) left zero doubt when he put the WBA (Super), WBC, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles on the line in a rematch against IBF titleholder, Daniel Dubois, at the Wembley Stadium in London. The native of Simferopol, Ukraine dominated as he knocked Dubois out to become a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion.
He is likely to sit out for a few months, however there are plenty of intriguing matchups to make for Usyk’s return. They include Joseph Parker, Tyson Fury, and Agit Kabayel.
- Joseph Parker: After a knockout loss to Joe Joyce in September 2022, Joseph Parker (36-3, 24 KOs) has won six consecutive fights. It took him just two rounds to secure a TKO win over Martin Bakole, during his most recent outing in February. Prior to that, he was coming off back-to-back upset wins, against Deontay Wilder, and Zhilei Zhang.
The former WBO heavyweight champion is currently recognized as the mandatory challenger, under the WBO sanctioning body. He congratulated Usyk inside the ring following his win, and called for his shot. It’s been years since Parker last held a world title, after a unanimous decision loss against Anthony Joshua for the WBO title in March 2018.
- Gypsy King: Tyson Fury recently announced that he is coming out of retirement for the second time. Following two consecutive defeats at the hands of Usyk in 2024, the former lineal heavyweight champion has kept his eyes on the same target. A trilogy fight against the 200-pound undisputed champion in 2026.
Fury called out Usyk shortly after his victory, in a video posted on social media.
- Agit Kabayel: The German native is making some serious noise in the heavyweight landscape. Agit Kabayel (26-0, 18 KOs) currently has a streak of five consecutive stoppage victories. In February, he knocked Zhang down twice with body shots in the sixth round. However, Zhang couldn’t rise to his feet after he went down the second time; giving Kabayel the knockout win.
It was the first stoppage loss of “Big Bang’s” career. Kabayel earned the vacant WBC interim heavyweight title with the victory, making him the WBC mandatory challenger.
Oleksandr Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois 2 recap
There was controversy when Usyk met Dubois for the first time in August 2023, particularly in the fifth round. “Dynamite” landed a right hook that hit Usyk right on the belt line, causing the defending champion to hit the canvas on his knees. However, referee Luis Pabon ruled the punch a low blow, and gave Usyk full time to recover. He went on to knock Dubois out in the ninth round to remain unified heavyweight champion.
Nearly two years later, there wasn’t room for any controversy this time around.
What happened: “The Cat” moved well around the ring, using his footwork and body movement to evade Dubois’ attack. The former IBF heavyweight champion couldn’t close the gap, or find the mark with his power. Usyk’s quick counter punches landed flush repeatedly, which Dubois was vulnerable against.
The result: Dubois appeared in his comfort zone, as he put Usyk against the ropes with a straight right hand in the fifth round. The heavy favorite Usyk countered with his own right hand, putting Dubois down on his knees. The two-division undisputed champion wasted no time after Dubois rose to his feet, and knocked him down for the second time with a left hook upstairs.
The English native failed to beat referee Mike Griffin’s count, as Usyk earned the knockout victory; along with the 200-pound undisputed championship.
What’s next: The heavyweight kingpin has no shortage of suitors who want their shot at all the championship belts. However, he stated that he’ll take “two to three months” off before deciding his next opponent.
What makes Oleksandr Usyk so popular?
In Oleksandr Usyk’s nearly 13-year professional career, he captured the undisputed championship in two weight classes: cruiserweight, and twice at heavyweight. He is one of only three male boxers to become an undisputed champion in two weight classes in the four-belt era. Usyk is also the first and only boxer to become a three-time undisputed champion in the four-belt era.
A look now at some other key accolades “The Cat” has achieved during his dominant career.
- Oleksandr Usyk record: (24-0, 15 knockouts)
- Usyk remains undefeated through 24 professional fights
- He made his professional debut at age 26 in 2013
- Representing Ukraine at the 2012 London Olympics, Usyk won the gold medal in the heavyweight division
- He is the first and only cruiserweight and heavyweight boxer in history to hold the world titles of all four sanctioning bodies (WBA) (Super title), (WBC), (IBF), and (WBO) in the four-belt era
- He is the first boxer to become undisputed champion at both cruiserweight and heavyweight since Evander Holyfield in 1990
- Usyk is the first and only two-time undisputed heavyweight champion in the four-belt era
Oleksandr Usyk net worth
The measure of a fighter’s success is the dollars and cents they stack up from a career in combat sports. Oleksandr Usyk’s net worth is estimated to be $65 million.
