Oleksandr Usyk Vacates Heavyweight Titles, Targets US Retirement Fight

Ukrainian heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk relinquished the WBA, WBC and IBF world titles after a challenging bout against kickboxer Rico Verhoeven, which many view as the first sign of a decline in his unbeaten career. The 39‑year‑old, now a 25‑0 veteran, announced that he will not pursue further mandatory defenses and is instead planning a farewell fight on American soil.

According to reports, Usyk is negotiating a late‑2026 or early‑2027 showdown in the United States, with two possible opponents: former UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones or former boxing champion Deontay Wilder. Both opponents are high‑profile American athletes, and a bout would give Usyk a marquee final appearance in the country where he has fought only three times before. The proposed fight would mark his first US bout since 2019 and could serve as a fitting conclusion to his decorated boxing career.