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Usyk has 'one or two more fights' left before retiring claims former opponent Gassiev
Oleksandr Usyk at most has two fights left in his boxing career before retiring, that's the view of WBA 'regular' heavyweight champion and former Usyk opponent Murat Gassiev.
Questions have been raised about Usyk's future in the sport following a late stoppage win over kickboxer Rico Verhoeven last month where the Ukrainian struggled for large parts of the contest.
However, Usyk managed to retain his WBC world heavyweight title, and remain the unified champion of the division.
'I think Usyk will have one, maybe two more fights before he retires'
As the WBA's 'regular' heavyweight titleholder, Gassiev is on the brink of challenging Usyk who holds the full version of the governing body's world heavyweight title, but first Gassiev must make a successful defence of his own belt against Tony Yoka on July 11 in Russia.
But with Usyk being 39 years old, there is not much time left in the Hall of Fame worthy career, and Gassiev believes the pound-for-pound great will fight at most two more times before hanging up the gloves.
"I think he may have one, maybe two fights before he retires," Gassiev told DAZN News in an exclusive interview.
"At 39 years old, he might have problems with his health, no more motivation. Right now he can make any decision."
After Usyk was pushed nearly all the way by Verhoeven, there have been calls, including from His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, for an immediate rematch.
If that was to happen, Gassiev expects a much better performance from Usyk who he claims did not take the first fight in Egypt seriously.
"It was a hard fight for Oleksandr because Rico is very big, heavy, long arms, a legend in kickboxing," Gassiev said.
"He came to die in the ring. Maybe Oleksandr did not take the fight seriously, and thought in training camp that Rico would be an easy fight.
"In the rematch, it could be different, Usyk could win by knockout in sixth, seventh or eighth round.
"He is still one of the best fighters in the world, he’s a legend."
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