Boxing News

Home

Quizzes

Newsletter

Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports

Oleksandr Usyk Next Fight: 3 Potential Opponents For The Heavyweight King, Including Filip Hrgovic

Originally posted on Ringside Intel | By Anthony Walker | Last updated 5/22/24

The Oleksandr Usyk next fight news should be expected in a matter of weeks. Until then, let’s see what could lay ahead of the current undisputed heavyweight champion and recap his split decision win over Tyson Fury.

Who Will Oleksandr Usyk Next Fight Be Against?

By becoming the first man since Lennox Lewis to become undisputed heavyweight king, there will be no shortage of options for Oleksandr Usyk’s next fight. Here are three potential opponents for his return to the ring later this year.

Tyson Fury: Immediately after the judges’ decision was read, Fury expressed plans to exercise the rematch clause in their bout agreement. After an entertaining 12-rounder, there is already a high demand for a rematch between the two heavyweight stars.
Filip Hrgovic: Although Anthony Joshua was expected to face the winner of Filip Hrgovic and Daniel Dubois, the IBF’s desire to strip Usyk and award their heavyweight title to the victor could disrupt those plans. Should Hrgovic get his hand raised, expect him to end up in Usyk’s crosshairs.
Anthony Joshua: Yes, Usyk has already defeated Joshua twice, but much has changed since then. Not only did AJ improve in their rematch, but he’s won four in a row with three stoppages. The box office potential of the fight gives it a better chance of coming to fruition despite the clear drawbacks.

Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury Recap

In one of boxing’s most entertaining heavyweight fights in recent memory, Oleksandr Usyk handed Tyson Fury his first loss to add the WBC belt and join the WBA, IBF, IBO, WBO, and The Ring straps he already owned.

What Happened: From the gate, Usyk began closing the distance and landing straight punches to the body. However, Fury was able to take control of the fight after managing his distance with jabs and using his uppercut to hold back Usyk’s offense.

The Ukranian rallied after the midpoint to retake the momentum, nearly finishing Fury in the seventh round. The knockdown played a huge role in his eventual split-decision victory.

The Fallout: Although clearly proving that he is the best heavyweight in the world, if the IBF follows through with plans to strip Usyk of their belt, it will do a great disservice to the historic accomplishment and take some of the luster off his next outing.

The Roadmap: Fury is most likely next, but other names could emerge depending how they perform in the near future.

What Makes Oleksandr Usyk So Popular?

Usyk has succeeded at heavyweight despite typically being the smaller man in the ring. Using superior speed, footwork, and the ability to overcome adversity, he has been able to reign among taller and heavier men.

Oleksandr Usyk record: 22-0 (14 knockouts, 8 decisions)
Oleksandr Usyk last fight: Split decision win over Tyson Fury in May 2024
Oleksandr Usyk height: 6’3″
Oleksandr Usyk became the undisputed cruiserweight champion when he defeated Murat Gassiev in July 2018
He has earned stoppages in 64% of his wins
Usyk holds notable wins over Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, Daniel Dubois, Derek Chisora, and Tony Bellew
Usyk won the gold medal in the 2012 Olympics at heavyweight.
The 37-year-old briefly fought alongside his countrymen in the ongoing Ukrainian/Russian war.
In 2023 Usyk signed a one-year contract with FC Polissya Zhytomyr, a team in the Ukrainian Premiere League. He has stated that he wants to play professional soccer after retiring from boxing.

Oleksandr Usyk net worth

The measure of a fighter is often down to the money they’ve made throughout their career. Oleksandr Usyk’s net worth is estimated to be as much $50 million.

This article first appeared on Ringside Intel and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: