You can’t tell the story of boxing over the past five years without mentioning Oleksandr Usyk. He may not be the flashiest fighter or outlandish personality in press conferences, but in the eyes of many who love the sport, Usyk is arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world right now. Just take Canelo Alvarez’s word for it.
Despite being 38 years old, Usyk is still at the top of his game. He could likely keep going for several more years, but it doesn’t sound like that’s what his plan is. He recently revealed that he only intends to fight two more times before retiring. First up would be the winner of the upcoming Daniel Dubois vs. Joseph Parker bout. Then, surprisingly, he says he would want to do a “show fight” against UFC star Alex Pereira.
Oleksandr Usyk sees a “big future” for Moses Itauma
It seems like Usyk already has one foot out the door of the sport of boxing. While he hopes to depart on a high note, he has already given his blessing to a heavyweight he believes can replace him: Moses Itauma.
[Who will succeed me?] Moses Itauma, I think is a great fighter. Young. 20 years old. I think Itauma has a big future.
It’s surprising to hear Usyk talk about any boxer, really, as he doesn’t usually delve into too much detail about others. But when asked about a potential successor, Itauma was the name that came to mind for the Ukrainian.
Itauma saw a meteoric rise in 2024, winning four fights – all by TKO – and capturing three titles in total. At just 20 years old, he’s only going to get better from here. Itauma’s last fight, against Demsey McKean, came on the undercard of the Usyk vs. Tyson Fury rematch.
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