Boxing world was stunned when Oleksandr Usyk announced that he is vacating his IBF title, thus relinquishing his status as the undisputed world heavyweight champion. The 37-year-old Ukrainian made history just last month in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia when he defeated Tyson Fury to claim the WBC, WBA, WBO, and IBF belts. However, Usyk is now focused on his upcoming rematch with Fury as per the terms of their contract, which means he will not be able to defend his IBF crown against mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois.
This decision paves the way for Dubois to face fellow British heavyweight Anthony Joshua for the IBF title in a fight scheduled for September. In a video message, Usyk confirmed his decision to step aside and stated “Anthony and Daniel, listen. I know the IBF title is important to you. It is my present to you on September 21.” This move shakes up the heavyweight division as it means that the eventual winner of the Fury-Usyk rematch will not be crowned as the undisputed champion.
Usyk’s victory over Fury marked him as the first undisputed champion in the heavyweight division since Lennox Lewis achieved it in 2000. With a perfect record of 22-0, Usyk’s win solidified his status as an all-time great alongside boxing legends like Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Mike Tyson, and Evander Holyfield. The rematch between Usyk and Fury is expected to take place in Saudi Arabia in December, setting up another historic battle in the heavyweight division.
