Oleksandr Usyk won’t be back in a boxing ring for a while after beating Tyson Fury again

Oleksandr Usyk is set to take an ‘extended break’ from boxing after beating Tyson Fury for a second time.

Usyk handed Fury the first defeat of his professional career in May via a split decision and then widened the margins in their rematch last month, with all three judges scoring the bout in his favour.

Klimas says Usyk won’t be fighting again until the second half of this yearCredit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom

The Ukrainian slickster often gets straight back into training after his fights but his manager Egis Klimas claims his fighter won’t be in the gym again until at least April.

“It’ll be a very long preparation,” Klimas told Boxing Scene. “After another 12 rounds with Fury, he needs a good, long recovery.”

Klimas added that he anticipates Usyk’s next fight will fall at “the end of July, or August.”

When he steps back between the ropes the expectation is that he will fight IBF champion Daniel Dubois in an undisputed showdown, providing, of course, he is able to beat Joseph Parker on February 22.

Dubois proved no match for Usyk when they squared off in August 2023, although he did drop his adversary with a shot in the fifth round that divided fans.

Some claimed the punch, which floored Usyk for several minutes, was legal and should have been counted while others insisted it had strayed low.

The referee determined it was an illegal blow and so Usyk was given four minutes to recover before rebounding to stop Dubois in the ninth round with a stiff jab.

Dubois was branded a ‘quitter’ by several members of the boxing fraternity in the immediate aftermath after seeing out the count on one knee.

However, career-resurging victories over Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic, and Anthony Joshua have shifted that perception.

His win over Hrgovic earned him the IBF interim belt, which was subsequently upgraded to the full world title when the major sanctioning body stripped Usyk in June.

Usyk is coming fresh off back-to-back wins over Fury and needs time to rest upCredit: Getty

Usyk now has the opportunity to become a two-time undisputed champion against Dubois after achieving the feat for the first time during his inaugural encounter with Fury.

Klimas believes a rematch with Dubois is the only fight left for Usyk to take in his illustrious career in order to, once and for all, put the controversy to bed.

“Would we set up a fight with Dubois if Usyk beats Fury? Absolutely,” Klimas told Boxing King Media before Usyk-Fury II.

“I don’t think anyone else is left in the heavyweight division. Right now, Daniel Dubois is the IBF champion…

Many people discussed the first fight, claiming it wasn’t a low blow, but it undoubtedly was.

“The referee gave us recovery time, and I believe any smart fighter would use that chance.

“For many, this raised questions, and for Oleksandr, a fight with Dubois after Fury would be the ideal opportunity to show he can beat him and become the undisputed heavyweight champion a second time.”