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Oleksandr Usyk intends to fight twice more before retiring from boxing, with his ideal first opponent being Daniel Dubois or Joseph Parker – but his final foe could be an unexpected one.
In May, Usyk became the first undisputed heavyweight champion in 24 years by outpointing Tyson Fury, before repeating the result in December to retain the unified belts.
Between those results, the Ukrainian vacated the IBF title, meaning interim champion Dubois was elevated to official title holder. Dubois retained the belt by knocking out Anthony Joshua in September, and he defends the gold against Parker on 22 February.
“I will fight who will win,” Usyk told Sky Sports on Wednesday (12 February). “Joseph Parker, Daniel Dubois, no problem. I think two years, one-and-a-half [left in boxing]. I feel great myself. I feel I have two fights to prepare [for], not more – just two.”
And on Thursday, the 38-year-old named UFC champion Alex Pereira as a potential shock opponent in his final boxing match.
Pereira, a former kickboxing champion, has had a brief but remarkable UFC career. In 2022, the Brazilian won the UFC middleweight title, a year after joining the promotion. Then, after losing the belt, he moved up to light-heavyweight, where he won more gold – which he still holds.
“[After Dubois or Parker], maybe a ‘show fight’ with Alex Pereira,” Usyk told TNT Sports. “Maybe. Why not? Alex wants to.”
After Usyk beat Fury for the second time, the Ukrainian was confronted by Dubois in the ring. Usyk, who previously held the undisputed cruiserweight titles, already has a win over Dubois, having stopped the Briton in 2023. On that night in Poland, Usyk climbed off the canvas after suffering a controversial low blow, which Dubois, 27, felt was a legal shot.
As well as having held two sets of undisputed titles, Usyk is an Olympic gold medalist. The southpaw triumphed at London 2012 before starting a professional career, in which he has stayed unbeaten while defeating Fury and Joshua twice each, as well as Dubois, Derek Chisora, Tony Bellew, Mairis Briedis and Murat Gassiev.
Meanwhile, 37-year-old Pereira holds six wins over five former UFC champions – including five knockouts. His sole UFC loss came in 2023, when Israel Adesanya avenged a KO by Pereira with one of his own. The pair previously fought twice as kickboxers, with Pereira winning both contests.
