Oleksandr Usyk insists he will continue boxing after the Tyson Fury fight.
The Ukrainian slickster previously claimed he would hang up his gloves once he had completed his two-fight deal with Fury.
But he has now changed his tune.
“Yes, of course, I am going to continue boxing. Maybe up to three more years,” Usyk told Boxing Scene.
“My motivation for fighting is discipline, family and fans. I appreciate the support of the people and the Ukrainian soldiers.
“This is my motivation. We are capable of more with good work. … My biggest win is yet to come.
READ MORE ON FURY VS USYK
“It will happen when my soul is delivered to paradise.
“I feel good. The Fury fight is a big event for me, my family and my country. I can’t wait.
“I’m not thinking about the knockout. My focus is on boxing. If I can, it will be a knockout. If not, it will be a 12-round win.”
If Usyk continues competing for three more years then he will end up boxing into his early forties.
The former undisputed cruiserweight champion turns 38 years old in January but isn’t showing any signs of aging as he heads into the four-belt shootout this weekend.
At the open workouts on Wednesday, he looked fast, sharp, and accurate as he pummeled the pads from an orthodox stance, the opposite of the southpaw stance he usually squares up in.
Fury followed suit by reversing his orthodox stance to southpaw as Usyk watched on with intrigue from the balcony above.
The Ukrainian didn’t wait around for long though.
As soon as he realised Fury was keeping his game plan under wraps, ‘The Cat’ filtered out of the stadium for an early kip.
The pair are set to meet on Saturday (May 18) at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in what will be the first undisputed clash of the four-belt era.
Lennox Lewis was the last man to hold the undisputed title in boxing’s marquee weight class.
He defeated Evander Holyfield for the distinction back in 1999.
However, Lewis did so when there were only three world title as the WBO was not a recongised major sanctioning body at the time.
Completely free £5 bet on Fury v Usyk
Free £5 bet on Lucky Dip Round Betting – NO DEPOSIT NEEDED
Sign up to talkSPORT BET and get a completely free £5 bet to use on the fight without needing to deposit any of your own cash.
Spin the wheel and see which fighter you get to win and in which round at a big 22/1!
If you’re lucky, that’s £110 profit!
T&Cs: 18+ New customers only. Opt in, get £5 free bet on selected markets. Available for first 2000 customers only. Bonus expires 23:00 on 18th of May 2024. T&Cs apply, click for T&Cs. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly
News Summary:
- Oleksandr Usyk makes retirement U-turn as he reveals how long he has left in boxing ahead of Tyson Fury fight
- Check all news and articles from the latest Boxing updates.