There aren't too many mountains left to climb for unified heavyweight champion
Oleksandr Usyk.
Usyk has twice beaten former champions
Anthony Joshua and
Tyson Fury, and is looking for history to repeat itself against IBF titleholder
Daniel Dubois during their July 19 rematch at England's Wembley Stadium for the undisputed heavyweight crown.
Usyk, a 2012 Ukrainian Olympic gold medalist and a former undisputed cruiserweight and heavyweight king, turns 39 in January and is a 12-year professional with an extensive amateur career preceding his accomplishments across the two biggest divisions.
It's fair to wonder that retirement is around the corner.
"[I am still boxing] because Jesus gives me the opportunity, and I take this," Usyk told DAZN. "Now my goal is to become a three-time undisputed. Listen, I love boxing, training hard. I guess it's my last two fights, with Dubois and next, I don't know who. I'll talk to you after this fight, it's my life."
Ring champion Usyk (23-0, 14 KOs) holds the WBA, WBC and WBO titles. The only reason Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs) holds the IBF crown is because the unbeaten Ukrainian willingly vacated the strap last year a month after beating Fury in an immediate rematch May 19.
That allowed interim champion Dubois to be elevated before his all-British duel with Joshua in September, a performance he passed with flying colors via fifth-round stoppage.
A third Fury fight
suddenly became a possibility last week for Usyk when "The Gypsy King" announced he'd come back from a short-lived retirement for a shot at "the rabbit" and
The Ring's No. 1-ranked pound-for-pound fighter.Usyk labeled his first fight against the "greedy belly" Fury as the most difficult clash of his heavyweight campaign.
Back to the task at hand, questions remain over Dubois' mettle. When Usyk was asked if Dubois has a weakness in regard to quitting, he said: "A little bit, yes. Maybe he's a younger guy, I don't know. Daniel is a little bit afraid. I am too, but my afraid is different."
A fatigued Dubois was stopped by Usyk in August 2023 with a straight right hand, immediately taking a knee only to get up at the ten-count without contesting the stoppage.
Many compared that to a similar situation that unfolded three years earlier in November 2020 when Dubois, ahead on two scorecards, took a knee and was stopped by
Joe Joyce having fought through a fractured left eye socket and nerve damage in their 12-round fight.
Dubois has been resilient since last facing Usyk, stopping previously-unbeaten contenders
Jarrell Miller and
Filip Hrgovic inside the distance before his career-best Joshua scalp.
"I love my British opponents," said Usyk. "I think Daniel is a good athlete, a good boxer, and has good skills. He has had great wins in his last three fights, is a great fighter. I think Daniel deserves [the rematch]."
Manouk Akopyan is The Ring's lead writer. Follow him on X and Instagram: @ManoukAkopyan.