Oleksandr Usyk has said he plans to continue boxing after his rematch with Tyson Fury and knows a trilogy fight may be next in 2025.
Ukrainian Usyk beat Fury by split decision in May and faces the towering Mancunian again on Saturday at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena.
Turki Alalshikh, the head of the Saudi Arabia General Entertainment Authority responsible for organising the bout, told Fury on Sunday that he wanted him to win in order to increase the chances of a third fight.
“There’s going to be a lot of pain on Saturday night for him, I don’t think he’s going to want a trilogy” 🗣️
Tyson Fury chats after landing in Riyadh ahead of facing Oleksandr Usyk 🥊#UsykFury2 x #RiyadhSeason | Dec 21 | Live on Sky Sports Box Officepic.twitter.com/RInnreuDau
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) December 16, 2024
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Usyk ‘wants to play football’
“I’m going to continue boxing, I’m going to continue training,” said the unbeaten Usyk, speaking to The Stomping Ground about his plans and adding that another episode is “what Turki wants”.
“Maybe I’ll take a rest for three or four months; I want to play with my team, Polissya. Then I’ll be back in the boxing gym.”
Usyk signed a one-year contract with Ukrainian Premier League football team Polissya Zhytomyr in 2023, having made a substitute appearance in a friendly in February 2022.
The 2012 Olympic Games heavyweight champion turns 38 in January and has 14 knockouts from 22 fights across his 11-year professional career.
He will compete in Saudi Arabia for the third time against Fury, having initially beaten the 36-year-old at the same venue and defeated another Briton, Anthony Joshua, on points in Jeddah in August 2022.
World Heavyweight Champion Oleksandr Usyk making his debut in a friendly for Ukrainian second division team FC Polissya in a friendly today
“I am very feel” 🇺🇦🥊 pic.twitter.com/rjFmzaTGg2
— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) February 4, 2022
Usyk ‘not thinking about Fury’
“I don’t think about Tyson Fury,” said Usyk. “I think only about my condition and how I feel. I think yes [I will be better on Saturday]… my team have helped me become better.
“We’ve prepared for a long time after the first fight. I maybe rested for two or three weeks and then I was back in the gym.
“I’m very relaxed. I want a tea with honey. I want to say thank you [to my Ukrainian fans]. I will win.”
Former WBC champion Fury’s defeat to Usyk was his first of his 36-fight career, coming after he appeared to narrowly avoid a ninth-round knockout.
