Absolute world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) has announced his return to the ring. The Ukrainian plans to hold his next fight in the first half of 2026, completing a mandatory defense of his WBO title.
According to Ring Magazine, Usyk's opponent will be the winner of the fight between New Zealander Joseph Parker (36-3, 23 KOs) and Briton Fabio Wardley (19-0-1, 18 KOs). Their fight is scheduled for October 26, 2025 in London.
According to team director Serhiy Lapin, Usyk has already completed rehabilitation after a back injury he sustained after his fight with Daniel Dubois and is in excellent physical shape. "The recovery is going great. Oleksandr is in a good mood and ready for new challenges," Lapin noted.
Recall that in July 2025, Usyk confidently defeated Briton Dubois, after which he took a break to recover. The champion also said that he plans to remain in professional boxing for at least three years.
According to Sky Sports, Usyk's team is considering a high-profile fight with American blogger and boxer Jake Paul, who is actively promoting himself in the boxing world, in the future.
