Unified heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk has opened up on his retirement plans, revealing that he has a ‘clear date’ in his mind for when he will hang up the gloves and hand over the baton as the best heavyweight on the planet.
Usyk is one of three fighters to have claimed the undisputed title in multiple weight divisions during the four-belt era and just the second fighter in the entirety of boxing history to have held the undisputed title at cruiserweight and heavyweight, after Evander Holyfield.
However, despite being cemented as one of the greatest heavyweights of the modern era, 39-year-old Usyk continues to fight on, expected to next face either Deontay Wilder or Rico Verhoeven, before he is mandated to take on Germany’s Agit Kabayel.
Although, speaking with Usyk 17 Promotions, the Ukrainian superstar revealed that he already has a date in his mind for when he will retire.
“There is a clear date when I will tell people, ‘thank you, an older fighter can’t compete with a younger one, not physically, not in speed’. You have to understand, you’ve walked your path and now it’s the era of the younger guys.
“Whoever among them proves to be the strongest – in discipline, in the work that they put in, in patience, with the guts, that is the one [who will succeed me], that we will see with their hand raised and we will help them achieve this.”
Usyk has previously stated that he will retire at the age of 41 years old, meaning that the undefeated technician likely has two or three fights left before he walks away for good.
