Usyk Will Face Parker vs. Wardley Winner

Oleksandr Usyk will return to the ring in the first half of 2026 against the winner of Joseph Parker vs. Fabio Wardley. 

That is according to his advisor, Serhii Lapin. Usyk has not boxed since stopping Daniel Dubois in July to become a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion. He suffered a back injury following the win, but has now returned to the gym. Meanwhile, Parker boxes Wardley this weekend in a defense of his WBO Interim Heavyweight Title. Usyk recently said he plans to box beyond 2026, meaning the winner of Parker-Wardley has a genuine chance of boxing for undisputed. However, a trilogy fight with Tyson Fury, whom Usyk has already beaten twice, is largely a closed chapter, while, a fight against Moses Itauma is off the table, as Usyk still has plenty to give.

“I spoke with Usyk’s adviser, Serhii Lapin, and he said, ‘Maybe five more fights with Usyk over that span.’ Now, he’s looking at the first half of 2026 against the winner of this Saturday’s fight between Joseph Parker and Fabio Wardley. That’s going to be the WBO mandatory that was ordered in July for Parker to fight Usyk, but Usyk has a back injury. He’s feeling good now, Lapin said. He just completed rehab and he’s in excellent shape,” Mike Coppinger said 

Is It The Right Move?

The primary concern for Usyk is the age and accumulated damage in the heavyweight division. Usyk, at 38, relies heavily on footwork, head movement, and high-volume—attributes that are the first to degrade rapidly in older fighters. His recent back injury serves as a stark warning; continued high-intensity training camps carry an increasing probability of career-ending injuries.

Furthermore, committing to facing top contenders means Usyk is greatly increasing his exposure to a knockout. The truth of the heavyweight division is that one punch can end a fight. Parker, for instance, has shown he can absorb massive shots and sustain a high work rate, while Fabio Wardley possesses legitimate, fight-changing knockout power.

Finally, Usyk has already unified the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions (twice), an accomplishment that firmly places him among the all-time greats. While fighting the Parker-Wardley winner is necessary to maintain his undisputed status, continually facing mandatory challengers who lack the global star power of a Fury or an Anthony Joshua offers diminishing returns.