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via Getty

via Getty

The reigning WBC, WBO, and WBA heavyweight champion, Oleksandr Usyk, is just hours away from stepping into the ring for his highly anticipated showdown against former WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. However, ‘The Cat’ has already made plans for his future in the sport—and he is not retiring.

The pair locked horns back in May, with Usyk securing a split-decision victory after a 12-round battle. So, a second win against Fury would solidify his status as the best heavyweight of the current generation. Not to mention, before clinching undisputed status in the heavyweight division earlier this year, the southpaw unified every belt in the cruiserweight division.

This makes him a two-weight class undisputed champion, setting him up perfectly for retirement after the Fury rematch. However, Usyk doesn’t seem to have had enough of the sweet science. You see, despite his success in the heavyweight division, Usyk has long contemplated revisiting the cruiserweight division, and it appears he is close to taking the plunge.

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In an interview with Sky Sports a handful of days ago, the undefeated pound-for-pound champion shared his desire to move back down. “I’ll try and go back to cruiserweight again. Yeah, I will try,” he said. Usyk already defeated the best fighters at the time including Tony Bellew, Mairis Briedis, and Murat Gassiev.

However, some new names have come into play in the division, and Usyk is craving some action. In the meantime, Usyk’s promoter Alex Krassyuk has shared his take on Usyk’s motives.

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Age may affect Oleksandr Usyk, Krassyuk says

What’s your perspective on:

Is Usyk's move back to cruiserweight a bold strategy or a risky gamble at 37?

Have an interesting take?

According to a December 17th interview with talkSport, Usyk’s promoter confirmed his intentions to move back down to collect all the belts one more time. “He was [Usyk] saying seriously that he wants to go back and cruiserweight and collect all the belts again,” Krassyuk said. While Krassyuk supports Usyk’s decision, he has doubts.

via Imago

“Age might affect him and time might affect him. But it is up to him, he is ultimately the decision maker,” Usyk’s promoter shared. He continued adding that he had backed Usyk’s decision in the past and would continue to do so. However, Usyk’s plans may come to a grim end if he loses to Tyson Fury tonight, as trilogy talk will take over the boxing world.

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It appears Oleksandr Usyk is either extremely confident about producing a win tonight or he just wants to cherish the last few years in the sport—he is, after all, 37 and dangerously close to retirement. Do you think Usyk should keep fighting?

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Is Usyk's move back to cruiserweight a bold strategy or a risky gamble at 37?