Oleksandr Usyk has relinquished his heavyweight world title belts, but his camp has stressed that the Ukrainian star is not walking away from boxing. The decision, announced on Thursday, sees Usyk step aside from the IBF, WBA, and WBO crowns he unified with his victory over Anthony Joshua last year.
What Happened
Usyk's promoter, Alexander Krassyuk, confirmed the move in a statement, saying the boxer had voluntarily vacated the titles to allow the division to move forward. “Oleksandr has decided to vacate his belts. He is not retiring; he simply wants to take some time to consider his next steps,” Krassyuk said. The IBF had already ordered Usyk to face mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic, but the Ukrainian opted to step aside rather than defend.
Details of the Vacated Belts
Usyk, 37, had held the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles since outpointing Joshua in September 2021. He successfully defended them once, stopping Joshua in the rematch a year later. The IBF belt was the first to be vacated, with the organization confirming that Hrgovic and Daniel Dubois will now fight for the vacant title. The WBA and WBO are expected to follow suit, though no official announcements have been made.
Impact on the Heavyweight Division
The development reshapes the heavyweight landscape. With Usyk out of the picture, the path clears for a potential unification bout between Tyson Fury and the winner of Hrgovic-Dubois. Fury, the WBC champion, had been in talks for a fight with Usyk, but those negotiations stalled. “The division is now wide open,” boxing analyst Mike Coppinger told The Guardian. “Usyk stepping aside creates opportunities for other top contenders.”
Usyk's record remains unblemished at 20-0 (13 KOs), and his team insists he will fight again. “He is taking a break, not retiring. When he returns, he will be even stronger,” Krassyuk added. No timeline for his return has been set.
