Usyk weighs next move after back injury, defense or retirement

Oleksandr Usyk, the undisputed heavyweight champion, is weighing his next move as he recovers from a back injury and considers whether to defend his titles or retire, former champion Lennox Lewis said on Monday. Usyk, 38, became undisputed for a second time in July when he knocked out Daniel Dubois inside five rounds at Wembley Stadium in front of 90,000 spectators. His immediate plans remain unclear as his team evaluates options for a return and a required WBO mandatory defense looms.

Usyk’s camp requested and received a 90 day extension to meet the WBO mandatory obligation after citing injury, a decision that followed scrutiny of footage showing the champion at a public event. Usyk’s associate Sergey Lapin said the team is exploring "new opportunities and an exciting location to stage another fight for the undisputed world championship" and added, "we wish good luck to Joseph Parker and Fabio Wardley may the best man win." Parker and Wardley are scheduled to meet next month, with the winner expected to emerge as a likely mandatory challenger for Usyk’s WBO belt.

Lewis, who retired as heavyweight champion in 2003, urged Usyk to consider leaving boxing while still at the top of...