Oleksandr Usyk. The Ukrainian heavyweight champion. Has announced he will vacate all his current world titles, including the WBA, WBC, and IBF belts, according to Al Jazeera. In a social media post, Usyk stated that it is a ‘good day to say that I want to vacate all the belts that I currently hold, to make them free so that the guys who are in line for them can box.’ He emphasized that he is not retiring from the sport, saying he still has his ‘last dance’ ahead.

Usyk’s Career and Record

Usyk, who is 39 years old and has remained unbeaten in all 25 of his professional bouts,including 16 knockouts,has been a dominant force in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions. He is the first fighter in history to hold all four major world titles at both cruiserweight and heavyweight, according to The Guardian.

He previously held the WBA, WBO, and IBF belts after defeating Anthony Joshua in September 2021 and then claimed the WBC title from Tyson Fury in May 2024. In July 2025, he retook the IBF title from Daniel Dubois, only to vacate the WBO belt a few months later. Dubois then won the WBO belt by defeating Fabio Wardley in May 2025.

Usyk’s Recent Fight and Future Plans

Usyk’s last fight took place in May 2025, when he defeated Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven in the 11th round, according to The Guardian. However, not all of his titles were on the line in that bout. In a video posted on X, Usyk described his decision to vacate the belts as ‘well-considered’ and said it will ‘open new opportunities.’ His sporting director, Sergey Lapin, told ESPN that the move is intended to give former champion Anthony Joshua a chance to reunify the titles.

Lapin added that Usyk’s goal is to finish his career with his final fights in the United States, where he wants to leave the ‘last chapter of his boxing legacy.’

Implications for the Heavyweight Division

According to boxsport magazin, Usyk’s decision could open the door for a potential fight between Tyson Fury and interim WBC champion Agit Kabayel. WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán said that if Usyk vacates the title, Fury—currently the number one contender,would be in a strong position to challenge Kabayel for the vacant belt.

Sulaimán emphasized that Fury remains a ‘proud ambassador’ of the WBC and that he holds a ‘high standing’ within the organization. ‘If he ever fights for the WBC title again, I will definitely be there,’ Sulaimán said.

For Kabayel, a fight with Fury would not be the ideal scenario he had hoped for after being named the mandatory challenger to Usyk. However, it would still offer a chance to win the most prestigious title in boxing. By June 30, Usyk’s and Kabayel’s teams must agree on the terms of the world title fight. If no agreement is reached, a purse bid will follow, and the top of the heavyweight division could see a new dynamic soon.