Heavyweight permutations: What’s next after Usyk’s demolition job?
Oleksandr Usyk once again reminded the world why he’s the undisputed king of heavyweight boxing. His ruthless five-round dismantling of Daniel Dubois at Wembley cemented his legacy and left fans asking the big question: who’s left to challenge him?
Itauma, Whyte & the next wave
The next major heavyweight showdown is set for 16 August in Saudi Arabia, when 20-year-old prodigy Moses Itauma faces veteran Dillian Whyte. It’s a huge leap for Itauma, and the fight will reveal whether the youngster can live up to the hype.
On the same card, Filip Hrgovic meets David Adeleye. Both men are desperate to reignite their careers after suffering first defeats, and the winner will be right back in the conversation for bigger fights.
Usyk’s options
After the Dubois fight, Usyk name-dropped Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, Joseph Parker—and even Derek Chisora—as potential opponents. He could also spring a surprise by handing a shot to Fabio Wardley or the rising star Itauma.
At 38, the champion controls his own destiny and has always leaned toward giving fans the fights they most want to see.
What’s next for Dubois?
For Daniel Dubois, this was a painful third career defeat—two of them to Usyk. While neither fight was close, his explosive style still makes him one of the division’s most entertaining figures.
Rematches with Joshua or a domestic clash with Wardley, Chisora, or Whyte all remain possibilities. His promoter Frank Warren insists Dubois will bounce back:
“He’s got to make a statement against a quality fighter. He can punch, he can hurt you, but now it’s about resilience and developing other parts of his game.”
With youth on his side, Dubois still has time to rebuild and could yet become a future champion once Usyk eventually retires.
The Joshua & Fury question
Despite speculation, neither Anthony Joshua nor Tyson Fury were at Wembley. Joshua is recovering from elbow surgery and isn’t expected to return until late this year, while Fury continues to flirt with retirement.
Eddie Hearn has been clear: fans want Joshua v Fury, not another Usyk trilogy.
“AJ v Fury remains the biggest fight in boxing,” Hearn said.
Still, Fury has thrown Usyk’s name back into the mix, showing once again how unpredictable he can be.
Other contenders
Deontay Wilder returned with a laboured win over Tyrrell Herndon last month. While not vintage, his name alone keeps him relevant.
Frazer Clarke is set to face Jeamie Tshikeva for the British title soon.
Prospects Leo Atang (18) and Solomon Dacres continue to build momentum, with Dacres securing his 10th career win on the Usyk-Dubois undercard.
The bigger picture
With Usyk still on top, Fury circling, Joshua recovering, and new blood like Itauma pushing through, the heavyweight division is both crowded and unpredictable. What’s certain is that the next 12 months could shape the future of boxing’s glamour division.
