Oleksandr Usyk is back in the gym after successfully recovering from the back injury he sustained following his win over Daniel Dubois in July. And now, with the undisputed heavyweight champ confirmed to be out for the rest of the year, fans will have to wait until 2026 to see his comeback. And despite several exciting matchups on the horizon, a trilogy against Tyson Fury seems unlikely, as Usyk apparently has different plans before his imminent retirement.

In January, ‘The Gypsy King’ once again announced his retirement from boxing after suffering two back-to-back losses against the Ukrainian. But as ‘The Cat’ continued to prove himself as one of the most dominant heavyweights of recent times, Tyson Fury took to Instagram to claim that a possible trilogy bout was in the works for April 18, 2026, at London’s Wembley Stadium. Later, an ESPN report also suggested that Fury’s team, Queensberry, showed interest in another rematch following the Usyk vs. Dubois fight. Now that the fight is said and done, the heavyweight champ believes he’ll retire at 41 and might face the winner of Joseph Parker vs. Fabio Wardley next. 

Oleksandr Usyk snubs Tyson Fury trilogy for Parker vs Fabio winner

According to Ready to Fight, the CEO and Usyk’s long-time advisor Serhii Lapin said, “He feels great and is in excellent shape. Theoretically, a Usyk vs. Fury fight is an interesting option — but for whom? Perhaps if the boxing fans truly demand it. But in my opinion, that chapter is already closed.” 

Although a Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk trilogy bout would undoubtedly grab everyone’s attention, ‘The Cat’ has already proven himself as the superior fighter by handing ‘The Gypsy King’ two professional defeats in a row. After that, the Ukrainian then went on to claim the IBF heavyweight belt by knocking out the surging contender Daniel Dubois.  

So, after securing a win over the French heavyweight superstar, Usyk now seems poised to chase a fresh challenge that truly excites him before retiring at 41. Because of that, the Ukrainian has his sights set on the winner of Joseph Parker vs. Fabio Wardley, who are scheduled to clash for the mandatory spot on October 25, 2025. 

Popular combat sports page Home of Fight recently uploaded a photo of the heavyweight champ on Instagram, quoting his interview with RT Fight. The caption read, “I’ll fight until I am 41. Then I’ll build a sports academy, I’ll train there and train others.” 

While Oleksandr Usyk’s next opponent will potentially come from the Parker vs. Wardley fight, another fighter could’ve made for a solid matchup. But it seems the undefeated Ukrainian legend isn’t too keen on facing him either. 

The heavyweight champion isn’t interested in fighting Moises Itauma  

Currently, 20-year-old Moises Itauma has become the talk of the town in the heavyweight boxing scene. After he brutalized Dillian Whyte in one round in Saudi Arabia to win the vacant Commonwealth title, along with the WBA International and WBO Inter-Continental heavyweight titles, he called out Oleksandr Usyk for a potential undisputed title fight. But it seems the reigning heavyweight champ isn’t too interested in facing such a young contender.

According to a BBC article, Usyk said, “No, I won’t fight Itauma. He’s young—always teasing me. And he said himself he doesn’t hit grandpas.” That’s definitely a humorous way to dismiss a fight. However, the Ukrainian also revealed a bit about the negotiations currently taking place. He added, “I can’t say who exactly, because negotiations are ongoing. I’d be lying if I gave you a name.”

As the reigning heavyweight kingpin gears up for his comeback next year, he will soon reveal the mystery surrounding his next opponent. While Parker and  Wardley currently lead the race for the challenger spot, fans shouldn’t be surprised if Turki Alalshikh manages to pull off the Tyson Fury trilogy as well.

That said, what do you think would be best for Oleksandr Usyk’s next fight? Are fans really interested in seeing Tyson Fury get another shot after losing twice in a row? Let us know in the comments below.