DANCE OF THE HEAVYWEIGHTS
doesn’t have much to prove in that regard, as he defeated “The Gypsy King” more emphatically in their second fight than he did in the first. And if Fury vs. Joshua turns out to be compelling, that rivalry could turn into a series, given the magnitude of interest. Verhoeven in a rematch? That makes sense, given the disputable nature of the knockout. But Usyk just doesn’t seem to be interested. “In this world, everything changes, especially in boxing,” Lapin said. “That is why I never say never. But as of today, we are not looking at Fury or Verhoeven as priority options. Right now the focus is on other opportunities.” Joshua? The two-time heavyweight champ has been welcomed into the Usyk camp, almost like family. Lapin quickly dismissed that notion. “Joshua is our brother,” he said. “We are helping him, we are openly sharing our experience, and in this situation there can be no talk of any fight with
Oleksandr. Besides, Joshua has his own path and his own tasks. He has a serious road ahead if he wants to collect the belts again and return to the very top.” Dubois again? No. Usyk had actually intended to fight Wardley to regain the undisputed championship if he beat Dubois – a victory that would’ve lifted his credibility as a potential opponent – but that didn’t happen. Why not Dubois then? Usyk had already stopped him twice. The motivation for a third fight isn’t there. Itauma or Kabayel? Not likely, at least not any time soon. Itauma (14-0, 12 KOs) is generally seen as the most likely successor to Usyk as the dominant force in the division. He carries himself with maturity beyond his
age, he can box, and he has formidable punching power. The problem is that he doesn’t have the track record Usyk demands in an opponent – Verhoeven was an exception because of his legend status in kickboxing and the money he generated. Of course, that could change. If Itauma beats Hrgovic and then takes down Sanchez, he would become a more attractive opponent. But that’s in the future. Kabayel (27-0, 19 KOs) is 33 and has a stronger resume than Itauma, with victories over Sanchez, Zhang and Arslanbek Makhmudov. And, with his newly awarded leverage as WBC titleholder, he’s calling out all the top heavyweights as he prepares for his first defense in the fall – including Fury, Joshua and Itauma. He, too, will become difficult to avoid if he continues to win. Just don’t expect Usyk to be calling on his younger counterparts at this moment.
Wilder is coming off a high-profile triumph over Derek Chisora.
Kabayel came of age with a scintillating knockout of Frank Sanchez.
“Boxing is unpredictable,” Lapin said. “Maybe one day Oleksandr will decide to teach the young fighters a lesson. But most likely, this is already their story. Let them go their own way, create their own fights and build their own legacy.” One thing working in favor of anyone truly interested in sharing the ring with Usyk is that he might fight more than once going forward. He used the term “final fight” when he made his announcement on social media, but we all know that could be code for “final fights,” which means we could see him two or even three more times if he’s motivated to continue. One doesn’t have to look far for a superstar who retired and then recently unretired – Usyk’s countryman Vasiliy Lomachenko. And we all know how difficult it is for fighters to walk away from a sport that has defined them, even those who have accomplished and earned so much, like Usyk.
along with Evander Holyfield. And the best heavyweight on the planet in the 2020s even though he’s undersized and fought the last four-plus years while his native Ukraine was at war with military superpower Russia. It doesn’t matter what he does going forward. All of that is set in stone. “When I look back on Oleksandr’s career, I will think about what a difficult and incredible journey he went through,” Lapin said. “He moved up to heavyweight, went through the whole division in a very short time and did his job. It was a wonderful time, but behind it was huge discipline, risk and work that many people cannot even imagine. “And, yes, Oleksandr’s legacy has already been built. He became undisputed champion in two divisions, went through the heavyweight division and defeated the best fighters of his era. Whatever happens next, nobody can take his place in boxing history away from him.”
Lapin acknowledged that he doesn’t know exactly how long his client’s last dance will last. “I don’t think Oleksandr will retire and come back 20 times like Fury did,” he said. “He’s not that kind of person. But, honestly, he’s already at the final stage of his career. One fight or more, time will tell. Oleksandr will know himself when it’s time to stop.” It’s likely Usyk himself doesn’t know how many more times he’ll step through the ropes. Maybe once, maybe more. Whichever it is, the smart move on the part of fans might be to savor him while he’s still around, because his likes don’t come around often. Olympic heavyweight champion in 2012, with a reported amateur record of 335-15. Arguably the greatest cruiserweight champion of all time,
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