The final two fights of Oleksandr Usyk’s illustrious career will be in the heavyweight division, and no lower.

The Ukrainian slickster recently revealed to talkSPORT.com that he will face the winner of Daniel Dubois vs Joseph Parker in his next fight.

After which, he is expected to have one more bout before hanging up his gloves.

Usyk isn’t certain who his final bow will come against but he did confirm that it will be at heavyweight.

The former cruiserweight king ruled out a move back to his original weight class and turned his nose up at the idea of fighting in the newly erected bridgerweight division.

The weight class (200lbs-224lbs), which sits between cruiserweight and heavyweight, was established in 2020 and is recognised by two of the four major sanctioning bodies – the WBC and WBA.

Usyk could technically become a three-weight world champion if he were to win a fight against one of the two champions at the weight, although its lack of prestige means it is of no interest to the future Hall of Famer.

“I will say no,” he told talkSPORT.com. “I don’t think about it.

“I have cruiserweight and heavyweight. Bridgerweight is new? Only one belt?

Oleksandr Usyk is considered by many to be the very best heavyweight on the planet right now.

Usyk has achieved what no other man has done before, and that is to become an undisputed champion in the four-belt era in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions.

Although Evander Holyfield famously won all the belts in these two divisions, there were not as many on the line. It was his fight with Tyson Fury in May which saw Usyk add the WBC to his collection of IBF, WBA and WBO belts which he had taken off Anthony Joshua in 2021, and then defended in 2022.

A second fight with Fury in December, and another points win after 12 rounds, saw the Ukrainian southpaw once and for all confirm that he is the best big man on the planet despite, ironically, being smaller than most his peers in that division.

Many feel he could retire and leave a rich legacy behind, though the man himself has vowed that he will fight on.

One potential opponent is the top ranked heavyweight Martin Bakole, who says he is the only fighter who can defeat the great Ukrainian.

“Yes [I believe I’m the only man who can do it.] I will beat him easy, I will knock him out. I’m saying this not only because I spar him but I know how to stop southpaws. I learnt all my life, boxing my bother who’s southpaw, how to stop southpaws. All his movement, all that, I will stop that, I will knock him out.”

Speaking to Boxing King Media, Usyk’s promoter Alex Krassyuk says former sparring partner Bakole will rule the division after Usyk but says they will not fight each other as Bakole has no belt.

Usyk, 37, was detained in Poland at Krakow airport, according to widespread reports on social media.

A clip of the Ukrainian being led away by officers emerged online, with the fighter’s wife and camp manager responding to the dramatic incident.

Updated 22:45 17 Sep 2024 GMT+1Published 22:32 17 Sep 2024 GMT+1

On social media, Usyk’s wife Kateryna said: “Everything is fine, everything is fine. Oleksandr will explain everything later. Nothing criminal, goodnight everyone.”

His friend and camp manager Serge Lapin added: “Don’t worry, everything’s fine. The customs control service is neglecting its duties.”

Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky took to social media to confirm that Usyk was released after being detained.

“I spoke with Oleksandr Usyk on the phone after he was detained,” he wrote on X.

“I was disappointed by this attitude towards our citizen and champion.

“I instructed the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, and the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Ihor Klymenko, to immediately look into all the details of the incident at Kraków airport.

“Now, everything is fine, our champion has been released, and he is no longer being detained. In the photo, he is with our Consul General in Kraków right after being released.”

The boxer himself also penned a statement on social media.

“Dear Friends. A misunderstanding took place. It was quickly resolved,” he said. “Thanks to all who got concerned. Thanks to Ukrainian diplomats for the efficient support. And respect to Polish Police for conducting their obligations with no regards to height, weight, reach and regalia.”

Oleksandr Usyk remains unbeaten in the professional ring but one heavyweight maintains he is the man to put an end to that glorious run.

Usyk has achieved everything there is to achieve in boxing and then some. He is a former Olympic gold medalist who cleaned out the cruiserweight division to become undisputed champion, then moved up to repeat that feat at heavyweight. It took him just six years to do so and along the way he twice beat Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.

He has never been knocked down in the pro ranks – though was put to the canvas by Daniel Dubois in what was ruled a low blow – and is generally regarded as the best of his generation and the current pound-for-pound king.

However, Martin Bakole – often regarded as the most avoided man in the division – has sparred with him before now and thinks he would stop the great Ukrainian.

Speaking to Pro Boxing Fans, Bakole – who is coming off a stoppage win against Jared Anderson – was asked how he would fare against Usyk.

“Yes [I believe I’m the only man who can do it.] I will beat him easy, I will knock him out. I’m saying this not only because I spar him but I know how to stop southpaws. I learnt all my life, boxing my bother who’s southpaw, how to stop southpaws. All his movement, all that, I will stop that, I will knock him out.”

Bakole’s brother, Ilunga Makabu, is a former WBC cruiserweight world titlist who held the belt between 2020 and 2023 after failing in his first attempt to win it when he was knocked out by Tony Bellew in 2016.

Whether or not Bakole ever gets a shot at Usyk likely depends on if he can get a world title shot of his own against the winner of Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker later this month.

Should he secure his mandatory shot with a win over Efe Ajagba in May and then manage to beat either Parker or Dubois, he may be able to lure Usyk into an undisputed contest.