Oleksandr Usyk reminded the world of his uniqueness once again, knocking out Daniel Dubois in the fifth round and thus definitively closing their two-fight series. Three consecutive completed duologies, the status of undisputed champion, and a solid 38 years on his passport put the Ukrainian star before a difficult choice: keep writing history in the ring or lock in his legacy, retiring undefeated. Let’s break down which options are truly on the table and which exist only on paper.
Trilogy Completed — Is the Division Cleaned Out?
The rematch with Dubois was more than a routine title defense for Usyk; it was a statement of power: the “element of surprise” that helped the Briton in their first meeting was nowhere in sight. The Ukrainian’s victory stripped the heavyweight class of intrigue — Oleksandr has faced the top-ranked contenders two or three times apiece and always emerged victorious. In doing so, he has effectively “swept” the summit of the division, leaving the sanctioning bodies with a headache: who can they name as a mandatory challenger that will still capture fan interest and avoid looking routine?
Tyson Fury: Will the Long-Running Blockbuster Drag On?
The loudest and most controversial option is a third fight with Tyson Fury. The relationship between the former lineal king and the current undisputed champion resembles a Latin American soap opera: from friendly banter and clinking glasses to mutual accusations of “political robbery.” Fury has convinced himself (and part of the public) that his loss was “on paper” rather than in the ring and has already announced a trilogy for April 2026, complete with a motivational nighttime-jog video.
From a commercial standpoint, this bout is the easiest to sell: huge names, a clash of styles, and a clear backstory. The question is how much risk the promoters will accept — both Usyk and Fury are in the final stretch of their careers, and a third meeting would require nearly a year of build-up, including a full media tour. Given the Ukrainian’s age, it would hardly shock anyone if he chose to hang up the gloves by April 2026.
Joseph Parker: A Promising Mandatory or Just a Calendar Obligation?
WBO interim champion Joseph Parker is a realistic, if not breathtaking, scenario. The sanctioning body tried to appoint the New Zealander as Usyk’s mandatory challenger even before the Dubois rematch, but Team Usyk postponed the defense in favor of a unification bout. Now the WBO may step on the gas again, as the Ukrainian has not made a single mandatory defense in this weight class.
Parker himself keeps stoking interest: in a recent hallway chat he quoted Usyk saying, “Stay busy, you’ll get your chance.” If the Ukrainian doesn’t pull the same trick he did with the IBF belt and vacate, the New Zealander has a fair shot at penciling in September or October 2025.
Agit Kabayel: A Dangerous Fight That Is Hard to Sell
German fighter Agit Kabayel, of Turkish descent, has climbed from “dark horse” to WBC interim champion in two years, knocking out Arslanbek Makhmudov, Frank Sanchez, and finally the “unsinkable” Zhang Zhilei. Usyk personally handed him the interim belt in February 2025 — the photo went viral on social media. Yet the flip side is obvious: Kabayel’s no-name-killer style makes him extremely dangerous, but he remains little known. Turning such a matchup into a PPV hit is tough, and a win over him adds little to Usyk’s legacy. Expect the Ukrainian to vacate the green belt if the WBC insists on this defense.
Moses Itauma: The Sheikhs’ Bet on Youth and Spectacle
The most exotic scenario is a fight with 20-year-old British-Ghanaian prospect Moses Itauma. Sensation-lover Turki Al-al-Sheikh is personally steering the project — he wants to put the raw but talented puncher in the same ring with Usyk. Itauma’s next test is set for 16 August in Saudi Arabia against Dillian Whyte. If the youngster stops the veteran impressively, the Saudis could lay a check on the table that Usyk, DAZN, and Queensberry cannot ignore. From a sporting point of view, it’s a bold matchup: Itauma may simply not handle the class gap, but money has its own logic.
The Call of the Octagon and YouTube: Extra Events With Pereira and Paul
Among the “fantasy” ideas Usyk himself has floated are crossover bouts under boxing rules with UFC champion Alex Pereira or internet star Jake Paul. Paul even staged an eye-catching stare-down, but his primary target remains Anthony Joshua — Turki Al-al-Sheikh and Eddie Hearn have confirmed talks. With Joshua idle for almost a year, their event could take place this winter. Under those conditions, “Paul-Usyk” is nearly off the board, while a bout with Pereira still looks like a post-ironic meme: fans chant, promoters smile, but concrete numbers are missing from the contracts.
Leaving on Top: The Art of Closing the Book in Time
The wisdom of a great champion is measured not only by the number of belts but by the ability to tell himself “stop” at the right moment. Reflexes dull with age, foot speed fades, and heavyweight boxing forgives no millisecond lapses. Roy Jones Jr.’s late-career arc is a vivid lesson; stopping is hard. Usyk, still spotless on his record, can exit as gracefully as Andre Ward did.
His résumé already shines: Olympic gold, undisputed at cruiserweight, undisputed at heavyweight, and three-fight series with the sport’s most marketable giants. Each new bout adds less to his legacy while the risks grow sharper. Knocking out Kabayel or Itauma would surprise no one, yet the slightest slip would stain a perfect record. At 38, inevitable decline looms, and it’s easy to miss the “just one more” tipping point until it’s too late.
Conclusion: A Crossroads of Opportunities
At least two roads lie ahead for Oleksandr Usyk. One is to risk everything and pen a loud final chapter: agree to a third clash with Tyson Fury or, if timing allows, step past Parker and Kabayel to extend his reign to record lengths. The other is to end elegantly, leaving the sport undefeated after a dominant era. Whichever turn he chooses, the Ukrainian’s place in boxing’s pantheon is already secure. The only question is whether the thrill of one more big fight will tempt him again — or whether he’ll prefer the calm clink of glasses to the thud of a fist on a jaw.
