Oleksandr Usyk next fight: Five potential opponents for the world heavyweight champion after second victory over Tyson Fury

Today at 05:14 AM

Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury for a second time last night, in an epic chess battle between two of the greatest heavyweights the sport has ever seen.

The pair went toe-to-toe over the course of twelve fascinating rounds, with the Ukrainian eventually proving once again that he’s the number one in the division. So, with that in mind, we’re looking at who the champion should fight next.

Daniel Dubois

Within moments of his second win over Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk was approached by a raging Daniel Dubois, demanding a rematch.

Their first encounter had its fair share of controversy, with the Englishman landing a heavy right hand that sent the legend spiraling towards the canvas.

The shot, which was ruled as a low blow, split boxing enthusiasts down the middle, with many claiming that it was actually a legal punch.

Therefore, while Usyk took over the second half of the fight and eventually got the stoppage, to this day, Dubois fans claim he was unlucky not to have walked away with the belts.

Joseph Parker

While Dubois is desperate for his shot at redemption, he can’t take his eye off the task at hand, with Joseph Parker ready to beat him and claim the IBF title for himself.

While the New Zealander has always possessed remarkable skills, from his rapid hands, to his tremendous jab—in years gone by, he’s let his mindset prevent him from winning some of his biggest fights.

However, under Andy Lee, he’s come on leaps and bounds, dazzling in performances against Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang.

And should he beat ‘Triple D’ on February 22, he’d have every right to call for a clash with Usyk himself.

WOW: Jason Statham was surprised when a combat sports legend turned up to his movie set

Zhilei Zhang

It takes a certain type of fighter to go through a tough loss and jump straight back into the fire. But that’s exactly what Zhilei Zhang did.

After falling short against Parker, he made his return against the biggest puncher in boxing history, in the form of Wilder.

And in a truly devastating performance, ‘Big Bang’ rendered the ‘Bronze Bomber’ unconscious to remind everybody that he’s still very much a threat at the top of the division.

Therefore, if he can claim the WBC interim title against Agit Kabayel on February 22, he’ll put himself at the front of the queue for an opportunity against Usyk.

Agit Kabayel

Agit Kabayel is undeniably the dark horse of the heavyweight division. Back in 2017, the Turkish-German schooled Derek Chisora, winning every round in a truly tremendous display.

However, rather than capitalizing on the victory, he was shut out, with seemingly no one willing to give him an opportunity.

But after years of waiting, over the last 12 months, the gifted fighter has picked up two huge scalps, with brutal knockouts over Arslanbek Makhmudov and Frank Sanchez.

So, with his fight against Zhang not too far away, the 32-year-old knows that if he comes through with his undefeated record still intact, a clash with Usyk could soon become a very real possibility.

Martin Bakole

Martin Bakole is without doubt ‘The Boogeyman’ of the division, with very few raising their hands in the air to volunteer to take him on.

With a combination of rumors regarding what he’s done to the best in the world in sparring, and a recent terrifying showing against Jared Anderson, the power puncher is slowly proving himself as the one to watch in the division.

And while few are willing to give him a chance, Usyk never backs down from anybody.

Sheesh: Tom Aspinall explains the reason he'd love to train with Brock Lesnar in a battle of the giants