Heavyweight champ Oleksandr Usyk switches from boxing to soccer

By Olaolu Joseph

Oleksandr Usyk has announced his intention to switch sports, revealing that he already has a contract with a soccer team.

Many high-performance athletes plan how they will spend their time after retirement. Boxers often invest in business ventures or explore opportunities in media. However, Ukrainian heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has set his sights on pursuing another sport when he hangs up his gloves.

Last month, British boxer Tyson Fury announced his retirement from boxing, a month after losing his rematch against Usyk, who cemented his status as the heavyweight champion.

For now, Usyk has one more fight lined up against the winner of the IBF heavyweight title bout between Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker, scheduled for February 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

What stands out is Usyk’s decision to transition from boxing to soccer. In a statement to the Ring Podcast, he shared his future plans: “I will be a soccer player.”

Although this might seem unusual, Usyk debuted as a soccer player in 2022 and revealed that he is already under contract with the Ukrainian team Polissya. At 38 years old, however, he may have limited time to play at a high professional level.

“I am a professional player. I am under contract with the Ukrainian team Polissya,” Usyk said. He proudly noted Polissya’s success, including beating Shakhtar Donetsk, and added, “Now we are in first place.”

Usyk also expressed his lifelong admiration for Dynamo Kyiv, a club he grew fond of after attending a match with his father. Despite this affection, he looks forward to scoring a goal against them in the future and remains focused on his current team.

“It’s a club with a lot of history, but Polissya gave me the opportunity, and I signed a contract,” he said.