Oleksandr Usyk Planning 2026 Comeback However Rules Out Moses Itauma Fight
Oleksandr Usyk stands as an Olympic winner, triple unified title holder and unbeaten in 24 pro fights.
The champion Usyk says he will keep boxing for another two years and plans to fight again in 2026, but dismissed a fight with British boxer Moses Itauma.
Usyk, thirty-eight, defeated Daniel Dubois at the London venue in the summer to become a double unified heavyweight champion.
Usyk, who had previously held every recognized championship belts at the cruiserweight division, had previously hinted that he'd only box only once more before retiring.
But, the top-rated star appears to have reversed that decision.
"I will continue until I reach 41," he told the Ready to Fight website. "After that I will establish a training center - I'll work out there and teach others."
Usyk said he is back to the gym after taking time off due to a spinal issue which led to the postponement of a bout with WBO required opponent Joseph Parker.
Usyk continued that, "Hopefully", he'll be back in 2026 but excluded young boxer from Chatham Itauma as a future challenger.
"No, I won't fight Itauma," he said. "He's young - constantly joking with me. And he said personally he won't strike veterans."
"It's impossible to tell who specifically [{I'll fight next|I will face next|my next bout will be against] since negotiations are in progress. It would be dishonest if I provided a specific boxer."
The British boxer improved his unbeaten record to 13 wins, with eleven KOs, by beating former world title challenger Dillian Whyte inside two minutes in the summer.
The WBA has ordered its regular titleholder Kubrat Pulev to fight Itauma as his next opponent, however the Bulgarian is interested to protect his title against Murat Gassiev in Dubai in December.
