One of boxing’s greatest champions is officially stepping aside—but not stepping away. Unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk announced Friday that he is vacating his WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight world titles, clearing the way for a new generation of contenders to compete for championship gold while he prepares for the final fight of his remarkable career.
Despite relinquishing the belts, Usyk made it clear that retirement will have to wait.
In a video posted to Instagram, the undefeated Ukrainian revealed that he has decided to vacate his world titles, believing it is time for other heavyweight contenders to fight for the championships he has dominated.
“Today is Friday, the weather is beautiful, and it is a good day to say that I want to vacate all the belts I currently hold,” Usyk said. “I want to make them available so the guys who want them and are next in line can fight for them.”
The announcement marks the end of Usyk’s reign as the unified heavyweight champion but not the end of his storied boxing journey.
One Final Fight Remains
While surrendering his sanctioning body titles, Usyk emphasized that he still has unfinished business inside the ring. “Friends, I’m leaving the belts but not leaving the sport because I still have my last dance,” he said.
According to Usyk’s sporting director, Sergey Lapin, that farewell bout could take place in the United States. “As Usyk’s Sporting Director, I can say that this decision was made with the future of the heavyweight division in mind,” Lapin told ESPN.
“Oleksandr vacated the sanctioning body titles to give Anthony Joshua the opportunity to compete for and reunify them.” Lapin added that Usyk has long envisioned closing out his Hall of Fame career on American soil.
“As for Oleksandr, his goal has always been to finish his legendary career with his final fights in the United States, where he wants to leave the last chapter of his boxing legacy.”
Although Usyk is giving up the WBA, WBC and IBF titles, he will retain The Ring heavyweight championship, widely recognized as boxing’s lineal title awarded to the division’s top fighter. The decision preserves his status as the man to beat in the heavyweight division, even without the sanctioning body belts.
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