Oleksandr Usyk has declared he has just two fights left before calling time on an extremely decorated career.
The Ukrainian southpaw has been undisputed at both cruiser and heavyweight, most recently handing Tyson Fury his first two professional losses and sending the big Brit into retirement.
An Olympic Gold Medalist at the 2012 Olympic Games before turning over to the pro ranks, many feel that there is nothing left for Usyk to accomplish in the sport of boxing. This week, however, he laid out his plans to face the winner of the upcoming heavyweight title fight between IBF Champion Daniel Dubois and challenger Joseph Parker.
A win there would make the 38-year-old two-time undisputed in the top division – a feat rarely achieved in the past and certainly not in the four-belt era.
If that is one of two final fights, who is to be his last dance partner? In an interview with TNT Sports Boxing, Usyk named UFC superstar Alex Pereira as a potential.
“First is who wins next fight 22 February [Dubois vs Parker], but next, maybe show fight with Alex Pereira, maybe, why not. Alex wanna [do it?]”
Pereira is the current light-heavyweight champion in the UFC ranks having previously held the middleweight belt. He is known for his devastating power, though the question would be whether or not that would transfer to the boxing ring, as many have tried and failed in the past.
Usyk has previously expressed an interest in a ‘circus’ fight before retirement, and fans would surely allow him this one to cap off a stellar campaign.
