2025-10-17 11:00:04

Oleksandr will retire when he is 41 years old.

The undisputed heavyweight champion, 38, previously said he would hang up the gloves for good after his next fight, but The Cat has now revealed he intends to stay in the ring for at least the next two years.

Speaking with Ukranian outlet UNN, Usyk said: “I will box until I am 41. And then I will build a Sports Academy, and I will train there.”

The Cat also confirmed that “negotations are underway” for his next fight.

He said: “I can’t say who I’ll be in the ring with because negotiations are underway. I’d be fooling you if I gave you a name …

“I train every day. Yesterday morning, I arrived and immediately went to the training hall. I train with the goal of entering the ring next year and, with God’s help, winning.”

Usyk – who will turn 39 in January – has been ordered to face the winner of Joseph Parker, 33, vs Fabio Wardley, 30, or vacate his WBO heavyweight title.

Lupesoliai La’auliolemalietoa – who will fight The Beast on October 25 in London’s O2 Arena – recently said he was hoping to fight Moses Itauma, 20, if he beats Wardley and Usyk does not choose to defend his championship against him.

Parker told Sky Sports: “There are a lot of options out there after this fight. But if I don’t get past Fabio Wardley there’s no point talking about any Moses Itauma, any Usyk, anything else.

“But those fights are down the line and those fights are options once I get through this fight.”

Even so, Parker stressed “all [his] focus” was on beating Wardley first.

He said: “All my focus is on Fabio Wardley. He deserves to be respected, the position that he’s in, being No. 1 with the WBA and he deserves my full attention.”

Meanwhile, Wardley has also said he is hoping to share the ring with Usyk if he defeats Parker.

He explained: “I think I’m an exciting fight for him. Boxing at the moment, with the landscape and the different options and things people have, he may see his career in a different direction or may do something else.

“But I think I’m probably one of the most entertaining fighters out there at the moment and I think he’s a natural born entertainer inside and outside of the ring. So I think very much so, he’d enjoy a fight with me.”

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