Ukraine's Usyk to end career in new mega-project: Opponent already identified
Photo: Oleksandr Usyk (Getty Images)
Undefeated Ukrainian heavyweight boxer Oleksandr Usyk is laying the groundwork for what is expected to be the farewell fight of his professional career. The 39-year-old fighter, who relinquished all of his championship belts last week, is planning to stage his "last dance" in the United States, BBC Sport reports.
Legendary opponent for the finale
The leading candidate for the final fight of the career of two-time undisputed world champion Oleksandr Usyk is renowned 40-year-old American knockout artist Deontay Wilder.
"Usyk has already stated that he sees Deontay Wilder as the opponent for his last dance. It is a match-up with significant potential from a sporting, media and international perspective," said Usyk's team director, Serhii Lapin.
Wilder's manager, Shelly Finkel, also confirmed that the American would accept the offer without hesitation if the terms were officially put in writing.
For now, Usyk's team considers the United States "the most logical option" for the megafight, although the exact date and host city are still under discussion.
Partnership with a revolutionary mega-project
The biggest surprise could come from the event's promoters. Usyk's team is holding direct high-level talks with the ambitious new company Zuffa Boxing. The project is led by Dana White, while financial backing is provided by investors from Saudi Arabia.
Zuffa Boxing's core philosophy is to reshape the traditional model of professional boxing by introducing its own championship system and moving away entirely from the established governing bodies, including the World Boxing Council (WBC), World Boxing Association (WBA), International Boxing Federation (IBF), and World Boxing Organization (WBO).
According to Lapin, no contracts have been signed so far, and Zuffa Boxing is being considered as one of several potential partners for a major international event. The final structure will depend on which arrangement offers the best conditions both for staging the show and for the fighters themselves.
Earlier, Usyk's team director, Serhii Lapin, revealed details behind the Ukrainian champion's decision to vacate his title.
