Usyk confirms he wants one final fight before retirement

Usyk declares one more fight, then he is done

Oleksandr Usyk has told BBC Sport he intends to fight exactly one more time before retiring from professional boxing. The former undisputed cruiserweight and heavyweight champion used the phrase "one more last dance" to describe his plans and was emphatic: one bout, nothing more.

The announcement comes after a loss to Tyson Fury in their December rematch stripped Usyk of the WBA, WBO, and IBF belts he had unified months earlier. That second Fury fight ended a run in which Usyk had been the sport's most decorated active heavyweight.

From Olympic gold to undisputed at cruiserweight

Usyk turned professional after winning Olympic gold at London 2012 and swept through the cruiserweight division, collecting every major belt by stopping Murat Gassiev in the 2018 World Boxing Super Series final. He became the first undisputed cruiserweight champion of the four-belt era.

Moving up to heavyweight, Usyk gave up significant size to nearly every opponent. He beat Derek Chisora on points in 2020, then outpointed Anthony Joshua at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in September 2021 to claim the WBA, WBO, IBF, and IBO heavyweight titles. The rematch in Jeddah the following year went the same way, Usyk winning a split decision.

His first fight with Tyson Fury in May 2024 was a split-decision victory that made him the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era. The December rematch went the other way, and Usyk left the ring without belts.

No opponent named, but the short list is obvious

Usyk, 38, has fought professionally since 2013. He did not name an opponent or confirm a date. The options are limited but high-profile. A trilogy with Fury is the biggest commercial draw, though Fury has also hinted at retirement. A third fight with Joshua carries narrative weight, though Joshua's recent form has been uneven. A bout against a rising contender would let Usyk leave on a victory rather than a defeat.

"One more last dance. That's it, no more," Usyk told the BBC.

Usyk framed the decision as personal, not promotional. He is not chasing belts or paydays.

His camp expects a second-half-of-2025 date

Those close to Usyk describe a fighter at peace with the decision. After the December loss to Fury, Usyk spent time with his family in Ukraine before making the announcement. His promoter Alexander Krassyuk has not commented publicly on potential opponents, but the expectation in boxing circles is that Usyk's final bout will land in the second half of 2025, likely in Saudi Arabia or the United Kingdom, where he has fought four of his last six contests.

One more fight won't change his place in history

Usyk is one of very few fighters to have been undisputed champion at two weight classes. His heavyweight run, from Chisora to Joshua to Fury, was defined by precision, footwork, and wins over bigger men. One more fight changes nothing about that record. But Usyk wants to close his career on his own terms.