Oleksandr Usyk says he’s unsure who he’ll pick next for his final fight of his career after knocking out Daniel Dubois in their rematch for the undisputed heavyweight championship last Saturday night at Wembley Stadium.
Fury: $100M Payday Potential
If money is Usyk’s focus, it’s an easy choice for whom he should choose next. There’s only one fighter in the division that has the personality and charisma to bring Oleksandr another $100 million payday. That’s Tyson Fury. The ‘Gyspy King’ would create a lot of interest for Usyk’s final fight, playing on the narrative of being robbed by the judges in his two defeats against him.
Options for Usyk’s Final Fight
- Tyson Fury
- Anthony Joshua
- Joseph Parker
Parker: Least Usyk Fight Appeal
The least interesting fight of the three is Parker, the WBO mandatory for Usyk’s title with that organization. Fighting Parker would bring in the smallest payday of the three, as he’s not popular with UK or U.S fans. Moreover, he lacks charisma, and his interviews are generally dull. Fighting Parker would result in a lack of buzz during the promotion and nothing to captivate the fans worldwide. That would be a real bore.
Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) is coming off a bad fifth-round knockout loss to Dubois. His career has been held together by his clever promoter, Eddie Hearn, who matched him selectively over the years, particularly lately, after his back-to-back losses to Usyk in 2021 and 2022.
Usyk’s Dominance Narrows Choices
“I don’t know what’s next, but now, I want to rest,” said Oleksandr Usyk to Mail Sport Boxing when asked who he wants to fight next after his win over Daniel Dubois. “Yeah, of course, this day motivated me, but I want to give my time to my family.”
If Usyk’s two wins over AJ weren’t so decisive, he would be a good option for his final fight before retiring. It’s so bad that he schooled Joshua so badly in those fights, because it narrows his options down to Fury and Parker.
