Oleksandr Usyk has finally revealed when he’ll retire from boxing forever.
There has been great speculation over the timeframe for which Usyk, 38, has left in the sport. The Ukraine boxer turned pro in 2013 after winning gold medals at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, and the 2009 and 2011 World Amateur Championships. He quickly set the paid ranks ablaze as he won his first world boxing championship in only his 10th bout, and became the undisputed king of the division after 15 fights, beating the likes of Michael Hunter, Marco Huck, and Murat Gassiev along the way.
Previously, his team had indicated that he only had one or two fights left, however, Usyk recently said that’s not the case.
Oleksandr Usyk’s Retirement Deadline
Having previously indicated that he may only have a couple fights left, with a team member, Sergey Lapin, presenting a case for the pound-for-pound boxer crossing over to MMA for a bout against Jake Paul, it appeared likely that Usyk was preparing for retirement.
That, though, may no longer be the case, according to his latest comments on Rtfight.com.
“I’ll fight until I’m 41.”
That means Usyk has little more than two years left and, according to his modern activity levels, could provide three but perhaps even four more pro bouts before hanging his gloves up.
There are few fresh opponents for Usyk to take on, though the winner of Joseph Parker’s clash with Fabio Wardley on the 25th of October could present the champion with a viable option. Looking further down the rankings, there is also the fast-rising star Moses Itauma, a 20-year-old fighter reminiscent of an early-career Mike Tyson.
Usyk, though, does not seem to want to fight Itauma next. Or, even, at all.
“I won’t fight Itauma.”
Elaborating, he said: “He’s young — always teasing me. And he said himself he doesn’t hit grandpas. I can’t say who exactly, because negotiations are ongoing. I’d be lying if I gave you a name.”
Arsenal are in the market for reinforcements in the summer transfer window despite lifting the Premier League title.
The Gunners won’t want to stand still after their first-place finish, looking to bring in new additions all across the team.
The North London side were recently knocked out of the Champions League final by Paris Saint-Germain, so they will be looking for reinforcements to help them go one step further in Europe.
Despite winning the Premier League, there are still some areas of Mikel Arteta’s squad that could do with being improved.
With their season now over following the Champions League final, attention for the Gunners will now turn to the summer transfer window.
Arsenal Make Forward Transfer Call
According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal have recently made a call to be informed on the future of Bournemouth forward Eli Junior Kroupi ahead of the summer transfer window.
Arsenal are waiting to be informed by the Cherries about a potential price tag after the young forward enjoyed an impressive debut season in the Premier League.
Kroupi broke the record in the Premier League towards the end of the season by scoring his 13th goal, ensuring he has the most strikes scored by a teenager in their debut campaign.
After a strong start to life in England, Kroupi is now being targeted by some of the biggest clubs in the world.
Kroupi Could be Expensive Addition for Arsenal
AFC Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi celebrates
According to reports, Arsenal could make one marquee signing in the summer transfer window.
In an awful run of news, English football icon John Barnes has revealed he also has cancer. It comes in the same week that two other Liverpool legends Sir Kenny Dalglish and Kevin Keegan also shared they had the disease.
The former winger said he was diagnosed after his kids forced him to get checked. Speaking on Times Radio, he explained that the topic can feel taboo as men believe it makes them “less than a man.”
Going into more detail, he explained that he has prostate cancer, noting:
“Men have to then bite the bullet and swallow their pride and admit if they have problems and say it. So it’s a good thing that that has come out.
“I’m fine. I have my PSA and everything is okay. The thing about it is that a lot of men don’t want to admit it or want to have it done because it makes them feel less than a man.
“But you’re not, you’re exactly the same, you’re the same person and you’re around and that’s the main thing.”
The news comes after Liverpool legend Keegan revealed his cancer diagnosis at the start of the year, while Dalglish has also revealed he is receiving treatment for cancer.
It was a brilliant season for Arsenal as they won the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years. However, Mikel Arteta will look back on it with a sense of frustration after the Gunners came so close to a historical double.
Indeed, the Gunners were beaten by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final, losing on penalties after the teams played out a 1-1 draw across 120 minutes. The club’s Spanish manager is not one to rest on his laurels, and it appears as though Arsenal are already working on improving in 2026/27.
The summer transfer market is the most obvious way to address any shortcomings. With that in mind, it seems Arteta and his staff will be busy in the coming months with some notable arrivals. To fund that, however, some players will have to leave.
Ben White has long been one of the most reliable players in Arteta’s team, respected by teammates and fans for regularly putting his body on the line for the club since arriving from Brighton in 2021. Sadly, that commitment has cost him at times, and he’s spent the past two seasons plagued by injuries.
Jurrien Timber has made the first-choice right-back spot his own, while Cristhian Mosquera appears to be an able alternative as well. That said, the report names Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento as a potential target this summer.
Gabriel Martinelli
One of the few players in the current team to have joined before Arteta took charge, Gabriel Martinelli arrived as a teenager in 2019 and quickly established himself as a first-team regular. While a reliable squad option, just one goal in the Premier League this season is far from ideal.
If Arsenal want to reach an even greater level, it’s little wonder they are looking at the left flank as an area to improve upon. The report suggests Marcus Rashford could be of interest ‘if the price is right’.
Leandro Trossard has proved to be worth every penny since signing from Brighton in January 2023 for just £27m. That said, he’s never quite been spectacular enough to truly make the left-wing position his own, sharing duties with Martinelli.
Now 31, it appears as though Arteta may be willing to cash in on the Belgian. If this is the case, the report names Aston Villa’s £80m-rated Morgan Rogers as an ‘admired’ option to bolster the attack. The Englishman plays more centrally at times for Villa, but has spent plenty of time on the wing across his career.
Gabriel Jesus
Finally, Gabriel Jesus looks set to leave. Although the report suggests he’d be willing to stay around and gain British citizenship, Arsenal have said the 29-year-old can leave if they offer over £18m. The Brazilian was electric when he first arrived, but a bad knee injury during the 2022 World Cup has derailed his career in north London.
The dream replacement is said to be Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez. His preference is Barcelona but the Gunners may have a chance if they are willing to pay the £120m price tag, especially as Atletico don’t seem keen to sell to their La Liga rivals.
