Oleksandr Usyk has provided a significant boost to Tyson Fury by announcing his intention to continue boxing for the next two years. Earlier this year, Usyk, aged 38, outlined his retirement plan, stating that he had two fights left before retiring. In July, Usyk achieved a knockout victory over Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in front of more than 90,000 spectators, reclaiming the undisputed heavyweight championship for the second time.
Usyk is planning to take the remainder of the year off to spend time with his family before returning to the boxing ring in 2026. Despite turning 39 in January, he had been mandated to defend his WBO title against Joseph Parker after defeating Dubois to avoid losing the belt. However, the fight has been postponed due to medical reasons, with Usyk’s team successfully securing a 90-day extension through an appeal.
In an interview with UNN, the Ukrainian heavyweight champion disclosed that he has resumed training and aims to make a comeback next year with the goal of winning. Contrary to his previous statements, Usyk now intends to retire at the age of 41 and establish a sports academy for training purposes.
Fury, who had previously announced his retirement in January following defeats to Usyk, revealed in July that he would be making a surprising return to the ring next year. His promoter, Frank Warren, mentioned that Fury is likely to confirm his comeback soon and is focused on a potential rematch with Usyk rather than a matchup with Anthony Joshua.
The possibility of a Fury-Joshua fight has been a topic of speculation for some time, but Warren emphasized that Fury’s priority is a third showdown with Usyk, whom he considers a challenging opponent. Warren expressed confidence in Fury’s decision-making, noting that Fury is determined to compete only when he believes he is ready.
In other boxing news, Kieron Conway is scheduled to face George Liddard on Friday, October 17, at York Hall, Bethnal Green. The undercard is set to begin around 7pm UK time, with the main event featuring Liddard expected to start at approximately 10pm UK time. Viewers can catch all the action live on DAZN, a popular streaming platform accessible through subscription plans offering both annual and monthly options.
