Usyk, who had held the WBA, WBC and IBF belts, has been the world undisputed cruiserweight and heavyweight champion.
Revealed On 26 Jun 2026
Heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk says he was vacating his three boxing world title belts however is just not retiring.
The 39-year-old Ukrainian, who’s unbeaten in his skilled profession, stated on Friday that he wished “to make them free in order that the blokes who’re in line for them can field”.
Beneficial Tales
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Usyk’s announcement got here only a month after he got here near a shock upset defeat to kickboxer Rico Verhoeven.
Usyk wanted a highly-controversial Eleventh-round stoppage to show the tables on the Dutchman, who had been main on the scorecards as much as that time regardless of participating in solely his second boxing bout.
“Good day to everybody. In the present day is Friday, the climate is sweet, and it’s an excellent day to say that I wish to vacate all of the belts that I at present maintain -— to make them free in order that the blokes who’re in line for them can field,” stated Usyk in a social media submit.
“My associates, I’m giving up the belts, however I’m not leaving the game, as a result of I nonetheless have my final dance.
“I wish to thank everybody; I respect all organisations. I wish to thank everybody and say there may be extra to return.”
Usyk, who had held the WBA, WBC and IBF belts, has been undisputed world champion at each cruiserweight and heavyweight and boasts an unblemished report of 25 victories, together with 16 knockouts, in as many fights.
He’s identified for his wonderful footwork and ring craft, in addition to his capability to punch from unorthodox angles.
Iconic victories
However he seemed a shadow of his former self in a laboured and uninspired efficiency towards Verhoeven, whose jerky model and bulldozing aggression had unsettled the Ukrainian.
Verhoeven had rocked Usyk a number of occasions within the shadow of the Nice Pyramid of Giza earlier than being floored late within the Eleventh spherical.
After rising to his feat, Usyk swarmed him with a barrage of blows however Verhoeven gave the impression to be driving out the storm earlier than the referee jumped in to finish the battle.
Usyk’s most iconic victories have been towards British heavyweights Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois — whom he beat twice every.
He beat Joshua in September 2021 to win the WBA, WBO and IBF belts after which took the WBC belt off Fury in Could 2024.
He needed to vacate the IBF belt for his rematch with Fury however then received it again off Dubois in July 2025, solely to vacate the WBO belt just a few months later.
Dubois then beat fellow Briton Fabio Wardley in Could to win that belt.
Usyk turned WBO cruiserweight champion in 2016 when he defeated Pole Krzysztof Glowacki, beating Latvia’s Mairis Briedis in 2018 so as to add the WBC strap after which months later claiming the WBA and IBF belts off Russian Murat Gassiev.
The Russian, who has since additionally moved as much as heavyweight, was Usyk’s WBA necessary challenger and has now been upgraded to champion.
