Oleksandr Usyk’s friend wants champion to retire

Oleksandr Usyk’s friend, Alexander Krassyuk, has urged the heavyweight champion to reject a possible fight with Fabio Wardley and think about retirement.

The Ukrainian last competed in July when he stopped Daniel Dubois in the fifth round of their undisputed heavyweight conflict at Wembley Stadium in London. Usyk was scheduled to face Joseph Parker next, as the New Zealander had earned a compulsory shot at the heavyweight champion.

Parker risked that alternative by accepting a fight against Fabio Wardley last weekend. The gamble did not repay, as Wardley secured an Eleventh-round knockout victory over the former world champion. Elsewhere in boxing, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather are in talks for a rematch next yr, with Mike Tyson set to be ignored.

Following the beautiful upset, Wardley is now positioned to challenge Usyk in 2026 – with promoter Frank Warren focusing on a March date for the bout.

Just weeks ahead of his rematch with Dubois, Usyk and his former promoter Krassyuk ended their skilled relationship in a transfer that shocked the boxing world. The 38-year-old started his skilled profession with Krassyuk’s K2 Promotions 12 years in the past, following his gold medal triumph at the London Olympics.

Despite the break up, the pair have maintained a constructive relationship. Krassyuk inspired his former shopper to cling up his gloves after defeating Tyson Fury of their second encounter.

In an interview with Boxing King Media, Krassyuk questioned the logic behind Usyk going through Wardley. “I am public in my [opinion], I want Usyk to retire as fast as possible,” he said. “I was even against his fight with [Daniel] Dubois, but okay, that made some sense to become three-time undisputed…

“Give me one – not two, not three – however one purpose to fight Wardley. With all respect to this man, with all the credit score to him, however I’m considering from Usyk’s perspective. Even cash is just not the purpose – except a miracle occurs and the magician is available in the helicopter with all the cash and distributes it to attempt to conquer the land of boxing and paying, I do not know, 50 million to Usyk. Then it would make sense.

“Otherwise, it does not make sense. Why should he risk everything that he gained over the last 13 years? If he loses, people will remember his loss only. Lennox Lewis is the best role model for this; it is better to leave one hour [early] than two minutes [too late]. I am on the same page as many people who think about this strategically. The status of Usyk being undisputed, and being unbeaten, will stay with him until the end of his days.”

He added: “If [Usyk] has the motivation to get up at 5 o’clock in the morning, train three times, be away from his family for three or four months, to work hard, then probably yes, it makes sense [to continue fighting]. But will it bring him what he’s expecting to [earn]? Again, with all respect to Fabio Wardley, he is not a big name; it will be a fight between Usyk and an opponent, not generating [enough money at the] gate and Usyk taking a hard, stupid risk. It makes no sense.”

Warren, the promoter for British boxer Wardley, is eager to schedule a match with Usyk in the first quarter of 2026, with Wembley Stadium being thought-about as a attainable location. “The fight [between Usyk and Wardley] has been ordered, so there will be a period of negotiations now,” Warren acknowledged.

“And if we can’t reach an agreement, then it will go out for purse bids. I believe we will reach an agreement. The fight won’t be until next year, of course. I think it will be sometime in March… I’d love it to be in the UK, but there are only two places for this fight, and that’s either in Riyadh or here in London, that’s it. I’d do it at Wembley Stadium and it would be a sell-out. You know what you’re getting with Usyk, and you know what you’re getting with Fabio; it’s going to be exciting.

“Fabio has bought to be one in all the most thrilling fighters in the world. As a draw, Fabio is one in all the largest attracts in boxing. In his last fight at Ipswich, he drew 27,000 people to a soccer stadium in heavy rain. Then tonight reveals he is an enormous attraction, and it’ll only get greater.”