Oleksandr Usyk, the newly crowned undisputed heavyweight champion, has made the decision to vacate his IBF title shortly after achieving the historic feat of unifying the WBO, WBA, and WBC belts in addition to the IBF. The Ukrainian boxer, aged 37, achieved this milestone by defeating Tyson Fury in a closely contested split decision bout held in Saudi Arabia just last month.
Usyk’s decision to vacate the IBF title stems from contractual obligations for a mandatory rematch with Britain’s Tyson Fury, leaving him unable to defend the IBF crown against interim champion Daniel Dubois. This development paves the way for a potentially thrilling showdown between Dubois and former champion Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium in September, with the IBF title now up for grabs.
In a video shared on social media, Usyk addressed Joshua and Dubois directly, stating, “Anthony and Daniel, listen. I know the IBF title is important to you. It is my present to you on September 21.”
The move by Usyk marks a significant shift in the heavyweight division, where the last boxer to hold three major heavyweight titles simultaneously before Usyk was Britain’s Lennox Lewis back in 1999.
Usyk’s decision has set the stage for an eagerly anticipated clash between Dubois and Joshua, with fans and pundits alike eagerly awaiting the outcome that will determine the next holder of the vacant IBF heavyweight title.
