Heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has announced that he is vacating all of his world titles but insists he is not retiring from professional boxing.
The 39-year-old Ukrainian made the announcement on Friday, saying he wants to free up the belts for the next generation of contenders while preparing for what he described as his “last dance” in the sport.
“I want to vacate all the belts that I currently hold to make them available for the guys next in line to fight for them,” Usyk said in a video posted on X.
The undefeated boxer held the WBA (Super), WBC and IBF heavyweight titles. His decision means the sanctioning bodies can now begin arranging title fights for mandatory challengers.
Usyk previously revealed he wanted two more fights before considering retirement. He reaffirmed that plan, saying his decision to vacate the belts does not mark the end of his career.
The announcement follows his hard-fought victory over Rico Verhoeven in Egypt in May, where he extended his unbeaten professional record to 25 wins.
Usyk leaves the heavyweight division as one of boxing’s modern greats. Since moving up from cruiserweight in 2019, he has defeated Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury twice to become a two-time undisputed world champion.
His departure from the title picture could create opportunities for contenders such as Agit Kabayel, Frank Sanchez and rising British prospect Moses Itauma. Britain’s Daniel Dubois currently holds the WBO heavyweight title.
Usyk’s decision reshapes the heavyweight division, but the Ukrainian has made one thing clear—his boxing journey is not over yet.
