Usyk Set For Early 2026 Return Vs Parker–Wardley Winner

Oleksandr Usyk’s adviser, Serhii Lapin, says he’ll be returning to the ring in the first half of 2026, defending his undisputed heavyweight championship against the winner of Saturday’s fight between WBO interim champion Joseph Parker and WBA interim belt-holder Fabio Wardley.

Rehab Done, Fire Rekindled

Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) has been rehabbing his injured back, and he’s finally feeling better. He wanted to get his WBO mandatory out of the way against who emerges victorious in the battle between Parker (36-3, 24 KOs) and Wardley (19-0-1, 18 KOs) on DAZN PPV on October 25th.

Parker vs. Wardley: Usyk’s Next Target

“I spoke with Usyk’s adviser, Serhii Lapin, and he said, ‘Maybe five more fights with Usyk over that span.’ Now, he’s looking at the first half of 2026 against the winner of this Saturday’s fight between Joseph Parker and Fabio Wardley,” said Mike Coppinger on InsideRingShow about Oleksandr Usyk’s next expected fight.

Usyk revealed recently that he plans on fighting until he’s 41, which is another three years. Five more fights is an ambitious number, given his injury problems. Whether Oleksandr makes it through a five-fight gauntlet will depend on who he faces. Tyson Fury would be less grueling than fighting the Parker-Wardley winner or defending against Moses Itauma.

Back Strong, Mind Sharper

“That’s going to be the WBO mandatory that was ordered in July for Parker to fight Usyk, but Usyk has a back injury,” said Coppinger. “He’s feeling good now, Lapin said. He just completed rehab and he’s in excellent shape.”

The fight that Usyk, 38, is not interested in at the moment is against 20-year-old Moses Itauma. Lapin told The Ring through Mike Coppinger that Itauma hasn’t been tested against anyone, and still hasn’t gone 12 rounds in a fight.

Queensberry’s Protected Prospect

That makes sense. Itauma has been pretty well protected by his promoters at Queensberry, and he didn’t have much of an amateur career, fighting low-level opposition without ever being stepped up.

Usyk would be doing Itauma and his promoters a favor by fighting him rather than it being something that would raise his status. As Itauma says, “It’s a win-win” for himself.  He loses nothing by getting beat because he age and inexperience excuses that he could fall back on.

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