Usyk is back in the gym and preparing for the next phase of his career
Oleksandr Usyk has resumed training after a long break. The former undisputed world heavyweight champion posted a video from the gym and captioned it simply: “Back to work.” The Ukrainian’s return to training may signal preparations for a new phase in his career, although no specific upcoming fight has been announced yet.
Oleksandr Usyk posted a short video from his training session on his Instagram. The footage shows the boxer working out in the gym, and he simply captioned the post: “Back to work.” After a busy period in his career, Usyk took a break. Now he has resumed his regular physical training. For a professional boxer, training after a break is an important part of preparation, even if his next opponent has not yet been determined.
His return to the gym has also drawn attention due to the uncertainty surrounding the Ukrainian’s future plans. Usyk has previously discussed possible options for continuing his career, and American Deontay Wilder has been mentioned among his potential opponents. At the same time, the mere fact that he has started training does not mean that a fight with Wilder has already been agreed upon. There is currently no official information regarding the date of Usyk’s next bout or his opponent.
Usyk’s Last Fight
Usyk fought his previous bout on May 23 in Giza, Egypt. His opponent was Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven, who was making his professional boxing debut. The fight lasted nearly all 12 rounds. Usyk ended it with a technical knockout one second before the end of the 11th round and successfully defended his WBC world title.
The bout was also special because Verhoeven had previously enjoyed a distinguished career in kickboxing. He was a multiple champion in that sport, but in the boxing ring, he faced one of the world’s strongest heavyweight boxers. After the loss, Verhoeven admitted that for a long time he hadn’t dared to rewatch the fight. For Usyk, however, the victory was yet another confirmation of his status as one of the top heavyweight boxers.
Usyk Relinquished His Championship Belts
In June, Usyk announced that he was relinquishing all of his heavyweight championship belts. This decision marked a significant turning point in his career, as the Ukrainian had spent several years amassing the division’s top titles. At the same time, relinquishing the belts does not mean the end of his career. Usyk continues to train and is considering the possibility of new fights.
Previously, two possible paths for the next stage of his career were reported. One of the most discussed remains a potential fight against Deontay Wilder. Usyk himself explained why he is interested in this particular opponent. For the Ukrainian, this could be yet another major challenge in the heavyweight division.
Will there be a fight with Wilder?
Deontay Wilder has remained one of the most famous heavyweight boxers for many years. The American held the WBC title and has fought in numerous high-profile bouts. Fans have long been intrigued by the possibility of a Usyk-Wilder fight. Both boxers have different styles, so their matchup could be fascinating from a tactical standpoint.
Usyk is known for his footwork, speed, accuracy, and ability to adjust his strategy on the fly during a fight. Wilder, for his part, has long been considered one of the division’s most dangerous knockout artists. That is precisely why a potential matchup between these boxers is attracting so much attention. At the same time, it is too early to talk about a final agreement.
What are Usyk’s plans?
Usyk has not yet named his next official opponent. His return to training shows that the Ukrainian has not put his career on hold permanently. After relinquishing his championship belts, Usyk is entering a somewhat different phase. Now he can choose opponents not only for the sake of titles, but also for major sporting challenges and historic bouts.
At the same time, the 39-year-old boxer already has one of the most successful careers among Ukrainian athletes. Usyk became the undisputed cruiserweight champion and later defeated Britain’s Tyson Fury twice to become the undisputed world heavyweight champion. His professional record currently stands at 25 wins in 25 fights. In 16 of those fights, the Ukrainian won by knockout. Now Usyk is back in the gym. Whether his return to training marks the start of preparations for a new major fight remains to be seen. The Ukrainian posted a video from the gym on Instagram.
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