Oleksandr Usyk has admitted he only has a couple of fights left, but he has a long line of champions and contenders looking for their shot.
Usyk has accomplished more than just about any other boxer in the sport. He left the amateur ranks as an Olympic Gold Medallist in 2012, and by 2018 he had cleaned out the cruiserweight division to become the undisputed ruler.
Another six years after that he repeated the trick up at heavyweight. Along the way he twice beat Anthony Joshua and twice beat Tyson Fury without being put down.
Usyk has been clear that he is targeting a rematch with Daniel Dubois, who now holds the IBF world title, after beating him in 2023. The match-up would give the Ukrainian southpaw a chance to become undisputed again at heavyweight.
Should Usyk choose to test himself against the new generation of contenders, two-time Olympic gold-medallist Bakhodir Jalolov, who has been dubbed a ‘future world heavyweight champion’ by promoter Bob Arum, has spoken to The Ring Magazine and declared himself on the hunt for the belts.
The Uzbek won all 14 of his first fights by KO before going the distance for the first time in his last contest, but he feels ready for the division’s elite.
“After a long journey, I’m now ready to get a world title. I want to get it as soon as possible, I’m nearly 100 percent ready to fight for a world title. I’m ready to fight the great fighters in the heavyweight division. Usyk, Joshua, I’m ready to fight these fighters.”
Despite his ambition, Jalolov will likely see Usyk retire before he gets his chance to prove himself against the very best. Should Usyk not get the Dubois fight over the line, he has a mandatory challenger in Joseph Parker waiting.
As for the Uzbek amateur sensation, who is 30-years-old, he must now step up the competition to earn his shot, with many touting fights with the likes of Jared Anderson and Richard Torres as good next steps.
