The Ukrainian boxing star Planning 2026 Return However Excludes Itauma Fight
Oleksandr Usyk is an Olympic winner, triple unified title holder and unbeaten in twenty-four professional bouts.
The champion Usyk says he plans to remain active for the next 24 months and aims to make a comeback in 2026, but has excluded a fight with British heavyweight Moses Itauma.
Usyk, 38, defeated Daniel Dubois at the London venue in July to achieve status as a double unified titleholder.
Usyk, who had once owned all four recognized world titles at cruiserweight, had indicated before that he'd only box only once more before hanging up his gloves.
Yet, the pound-for-pound fighter seems to have reversed that plan.
"I plan to box until I turn forty-one," Usyk stated on the R2F website. "Then I will establish a sports academy - I'll train there and mentor boxers."
Usyk revealed he has returned to training after sitting out due to a injury which led to the postponement of a fight with WBO mandatory challenger Joseph Parker.
He added that, "God willing", he'll be back in 2026 but ruled out 20-year-old Chatham fighter Itauma as a possible rival.
"No, I won't fight Itauma," Usyk stated. "He is youthful - always teasing me. He stated personally he refuses to fight older fighters."
"I am unable to reveal which opponent [{I'll fight next|I will face next|my next bout will be against] since discussions are ongoing. I cannot truthfully say if I gave you a name."
The British boxer improved his undefeated streak to 13 wins, with eleven KOs, by defeating ex-title contender Dillian Whyte in under two minutes in the summer.
World Boxing Association has mandated its regular titleholder Kubrat Pulev to face Itauma in his next bout, but the fighter from Bulgaria is keen to defend his belt against Murat Gassiev in the UAE in the winter.
