Oleksandr Usyk vacates belts but is not retiring
Heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk said he will give up all his belts but will not retire.
The 39-year-old player, who has an undefeated record with 25 wins in his professional career, is the owner of the WBA ‘super’, WBC and IBF belts.
In his statement to
In preparation for his last fight in May (a gutsy win over Rico Verhoeven in Egypt), the Ukrainian said he still wanted to fight two more times before considering whether to hang up the gloves.
He added in a video message: “I want to make all the belts I currently hold available so the next guys can fight for them.
“Guys, I’m giving up the belts, but I’m not giving up the sport because I still have my last dance.”
Usyk, a two-time undisputed world champion, was pushed to his limits by Verhoeven, who had only competed in boxing once but had a formidable record in kickboxing, eventually ending the fight late in the 11th round.
Mandatory challengers are rotated between sanctioning bodies, with WBC interim champion Agit Kabayel next in line – widely seen as the most deserving challenger yet to get the opportunity.
The unbeaten German has quietly built one of the strongest CVs in the league.
Briton Daniel Dubois, who has lost twice to Usyk, holds the WBO belt after defeating Fabio Wardley earlier this year.
More to follow.
