Oct 12, 2019; Chicago, IL, USA; Oleksandr Usyk (white trunks) after his win over Chazz Witherspoon (not pictured) box during a heavyweight boxing match at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports

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Oleksandr Usyk Reveals His Road To Retirement With Two Major Fights

Oleksandr Usyk unveils his plan to retire, revealing two major fights that will mark the end of his career!

Boxing greats rarely know when to walk away. Muhammad Ali fought too long. So did Roy Jones Jr. Even Mike Tyson keeps coming back for more. But Oleksandr Usyk seems to have his exit plan perfectly mapped out. The Ukrainian master boxer has conquered not one, but two weight divisions in spectacular fashion.

He cleaned out the cruiserweight division completely. Then he moved up to heavyweight and shocked the world by defeating Anthony Joshua twice. And in his crowning achievement, he outboxed Tyson Fury to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, twice. Now, with nothing left to prove, Usyk has announced he only has two fights left before hanging up the gloves for good.

Also Read: Dustin Poirier Goes Back And Forth With Nate Diaz And Paddy Pimblett For His Last Dance

What’s Next for the Heavyweight King: For Undisputed

Usyk has his eye on one more traditional boxing business. He is watching the February 22nd IBF heavyweight title fight between Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker closely.

“First is who wins the next fight on 22 February,”

Oleksandr Usyk has mapped out his Road to Retirement… 👀🥊

Undisputed fight 🆚 winner of Daniel Dubois vs. Joseph Parker 🏆

⬇️⬇️⬇️

Show fight 🆚 UFC champion Alex Pereira 😱#boxing #ufc #mma pic.twitter.com/OkYpoovBUD
— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) February 14, 2025

Dubois has been vocal about wanting a rematch with Usyk, who stopped him in a controversial bout that featured a disputed low blow. The winner of the co-main event of the ‘Last Crescendo’ will most likely fight Usyk for the undisputed title.

An Unexpected Crossover: Show Fight

In a surprising twist that nobody saw coming, Usyk revealed that one of his final two fights could be against UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. Usyk told this during a TNT Sports Boxing interview on the London Eye.

“Next, maybe a ‘show fight’ with Alex Pereira. Maybe. Why not? Alex wants to.”

UFC champion Alex Pereira called for a shot against Oleksandr Usyk in the ring 😳

“I’d like to fight the champ [Usyk]. Boxing’s one of my strongest skills, I think it’s a good fight. I’ve sparred with experienced guys and did very well.” pic.twitter.com/S6Ue9yWbOq
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) January 30, 2025

This unexpected callout actually makes more sense than fans might think. Unlike many MMA-boxing crossovers where the size difference is dramatic, Pereira and Usyk are remarkably similar in build. The Brazilian cuts weight to make 205 pounds in the UFC, while Usyk weighed just 226 for his last bout with Fury. Pereira even has a slight edge in height and reach.

The idea of facing Pereira would give Oleksandr Usyk a chance to close his career with something truly unique. The Brazilian has already made history by winning world titles in two combat sports : GLORY Kickboxing and the UFC. A boxing match with Usyk would give him a shot at making history in a third. For Usyk, it would be a chance to showcase his skills against one of the most dangerous strikers in combat sports, but in his own domain.

Whether this cross-sport spectacle actually happens remains to be seen, but one thing is clear. Oleksandr Usyk intends to end his boxing career on his own terms, with his legacy firmly secured as one of the all-time greats!

(Image Credit: Jon Durr – Imagn Images)

Alex Pereira

Daniel Dubois

Joseph Parker

Oleksandr Usyk

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!