Oleksandr Usyk confirms he will retire after next fight

Oleksandr Usyk, who last month relinquished his three heavyweight belts, has reaffirmed that he will have one more bout and then retire.

Talking to the BBC, the 39-year-old was asked if his ‘last dance’ could end up being multiple bouts.

“No, no, no,” Usyk said. “Last is only one. Not three last, not five last. It is only one."

In May, Usyk struggled during his bout with kickboxer Rico Verhoeven.

He would eventually win in the 11^th round to take his record to 25-0 (16 KOs). That the contest went that long, and the Ukrianian struggled so much against a novice opponent, surprised many observers.

“After [my next] fight I say ‘thank you, everyone. Appreciate.”

Usyk has achieved it all. After winning Olympic gold in 2012 he went on to dominate at cruiserweight, claiming all four belts before he repeated the feat, twice, at heavyweight.

Fellow veteran Deontay Wilder is thought to be the frontrunner to be the Ukrainian’s last dance partner.