Usyk has decided to vacate his heavyweight titles, but he has firmly ruled out retirement, promising fans a final farewell fight
Ukrainian boxing star Oleksandr Usyk states that giving up his belts will open up new opportunities as he gears up for one final performance.
World heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has declared his intention to vacate his heavyweight title belts, surrendering the WBC, WBA, and IBF crowns he currently possesses.
The unbeaten 39-year-old Ukrainian emphasized that this move does not indicate the conclusion of his career. He characterized the decision as a strategic step that would open doors for others while enabling him to concentrate on the final chapter of his boxing journey.
Usyk stated in a video shared on X: “It’s a good day” to announce that he intends to vacate all the belts he currently possesses. “I want to make them accessible so that the individuals who are next in line can compete for them. Friends, I am stepping away from the belts, but my journey in the sport is far from over as I prepare for my final performance.
He captioned the video with the message, “This choice is a thoughtful decision that I am confident will open new opportunities for me.” This is not the conclusion of the narrative. The journey unfolds before us.
Usyk’s most recent fight took place in May, where he achieved a stoppage against Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven in the 11th round, though not all of his heavyweight titles were contested.
His sporting director, Sergey Lapin, informed ESPN that the Ukrainian had chosen to relinquish the belts in part to give former world champion Anthony Joshua, whom Usyk defeated on two occasions, a chance to reunify them.
“Regarding Oleksandr, his aspiration has consistently been to conclude his illustrious career with his final bouts in the United States, where he aims to pen the last chapter of his boxing legacy,” Lapin stated.
Usyk initially claimed the WBO cruiserweight title in 2016 by overcoming Poland’s Krzysztof Glowacki. In 2018, he secured the WBC title by defeating Latvia’s Mairis Briedis, and subsequently, he captured the WBA and IBF belts from Murat Gassiev.
Gassiev, who has since transitioned to heavyweight and was Usyk’s WBA mandatory challenger, has now been promoted to champion following the Ukrainian’s decision to vacate his titles.
