Oleksandr Usyk’s team director drops shock retirement deadline amid cruiserweight return plan

Oleksandr Usyk’s team director Sergey Lapin has said 2027 is being viewed ‘as the final chapter’ of the legendary boxer’s career. Usyk hasn’t fought since stopping Rico Verhoeven at the Pyramids of Giza in May. He has since been actively searching for what he described as his ‘last dance’ after vacating his WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight titles . The 39-year-old made it clear he wants to clear out the biggest names from his generation, with a clash against Deontay Wilder a long-standing frontrunner for his next fight.