Oleksandr Usyk Vacates IBF Belt Just Weeks After Historic Victory.
Just five weeks after becoming the first undisputed heavyweight boxing champion in nearly 25 years, Oleksandr Usyk has vacated one of his belts.
Usyk secured his place in boxing history by defeating Tyson Fury on a split decision on 18 May, adding the WBC title to his collection of WBA, WBO, and IBF belts. However, the Ukrainian has announced that he has relinquished his IBF title, which is now expected to be contested by Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois.
Dubois, the IBF’s mandatory challenger, is set to face fellow Briton Joshua at Wembley Stadium on 21 September. Usyk addressed both fighters in a video message posted on social media platform X, stating, “Anthony and Daniel, I know the IBF title is important to you. It is my present to you on 21 September.”
Usyk had initially requested that his IBF belt not be stripped so the undisputed title could remain on the line for his rematch with Fury, scheduled for 21 December. However, the IBF, adhering to its rules, had no choice but to strip Usyk of the title if he did not face their mandatory challenger next.
Britain’s Lennox Lewis was the last undisputed heavyweight champion before Usyk, achieving the feat in 1999 during the three-belt era, before the WBO title was officially recognised in 2007.
The upcoming clash between Joshua and Dubois is now even more significant, with the IBF belt at stake, promising an exciting bout for boxing fans worldwide.
