Lennox Lewis to Oleksandr Usyk: 'Retire on top like I did'

The case for walking away

At 38, Usyk has unified and defended his status across the sport’s biggest stages, checking off names that define the era. Lewis, who retired at 38 after stopping Vitali Klitschko on cuts in 2003, knows the calculus.

“There’s always other boxers out there that don’t want you to achieve that… They want to be the first to beat you. That’s why you’ve got to make sure you retire on top.”

Lewis’s own résumé wins over Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, David Tua, Andrew Golota and Shannon Briggs, plus vengeance against Hasim Rahman offers a template: leave with the crown and the narrative intact.

The counterargument: one more chapter?

Not everyone is ready to close the book. Around the division, calls grow for Usyk to face Joseph Parker or fast-rising prospect Moses Itauma. Usyk, meanwhile, has been rehabbing a back injury since his July knockout of Dubois and moonlighting on the big screen in “The Smashing Machine” alongside Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson evidence that he has options beyond the ring even as new challengers circle.

What’s next for Usyk

• Heal up, then decide: Health comes first. A fully recovered Usyk can better assess whether the fire still burns for another camp.

• Legacy vs. risk: There’s little left to prove competitively. Any return would be more about compulsion, paydays, or a final stadium moment than résumé gaps.

• If he stays: Parker offers credibility and stakes; Itauma brings intrigue and generational lightning—both with risk attached to a perfect record.