Oleksandr Usyk: 'I Won’t Fight Itauma'

Two-time undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has poured cold water on talk of an imminent showdown with phenom Moses Itauma and revealed the age he plans to walk away from boxing.

Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) hasn’t fought since his dazzling fifth-round KO of Daniel Dubois on July 19 at Wembley Stadium. The Ukrainian southpaw, ranked No. 2 pound-for-pound by The Ring, is currently recovering from a back injury and does not expect to defend his IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO and Ring titles until 2026.

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In an interview with Ready To Fight, Usyk dismissed the buzz around a clash with Itauma, 20.

“No, I won’t fight Itauma. He’s young—always teasing me. And he said himself he doesn’t hit grandpas,” Usyk joked, adding that active negotiations prevent him from naming future opponents.

Itauma (13-0, 11 KOs) rocketed up the division with a first-round knockout of Dillian Whyte on Aug. 16 in Riyadh. In the immediate aftermath, Turki Alalshikh publicly floated the idea of Usyk–Itauma, and the British prodigy has called such a bout a “win-win,” even in defeat. For now, Usyk appears to prefer more seasoned opposition—though the matchup could resurface in the next couple of years as Itauma continues his ascent.

Injury, Next Steps, and a Longer Run

Before beating Dubois, the 38-year-old champion suggested he’d fight only once more after a rematch with the former IBF titleholder. That stance has softened.

“I’ll fight until I’m 41,” Usyk said. “Then I’ll build a sports academy I’ll train there and train others.”

The revised timeline hints at a busier late-career stretch once he’s fully healthy, with multiple defenses potentially stacked into 2026–2028.

What It Means for Heavyweight Chess

• For Usyk: A pause, not a stop—he remains the man with all the belts, targeting legacy bouts while managing injury.

• For Itauma: The door isn’t closed, just not opening now. Continued step-ups and activity could keep the super-fight in play down the road.

• For the division: Usyk’s extended horizon stabilizes the title picture, but mandatory pressures and rising contenders ensure the board stays crowded.

 Usyk isn’t entertaining Itauma next—but with plans to fight through age 41, there’s ample time for the collision to materialize once the champion returns and the prodigy keeps winning.