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Oleksandr Usyk has little left to prove after becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era.
That may be one reason why the unbeaten Ukrainian star announced Tuesday that he is officially vacating his IBF belt and opening the door for Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois to potentially compete for the title. Joshua and Dubois have been rumored for a clash in Wembley Stadium in London on Sept. 21, though the matchup is not official.
Watch Usyk’s announcement below.
“Anthony and Daniel, listen, I know IBF title important to you,” Usyk said. “[Call] it my present to you on Sept. 21.”
Usyk still retains the WBA, WBC, and WBO belts. He added the WBC heavyweight title to his already impressive collection—that also previously included undisputed status at cruiserweight—this past May when he won a thrilling split decision over the previously undefeated Tyson Fury in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The two are already set for a rematch in Riyadh, which is set to take place on Dec. 21.
Usyk was previously granted an exemption by the IBF to hold onto his title while he awaited his rematch against Fury in December. He was still at risk that the sanctioning body could ultimately decide to take the title away from him so it appears Usyk beat them to the punch.
Should Joshua and Dubois be booked to fight one another as expected, they’ll likely be hoping to face Usyk somewhere down the road. Both boxers have scores to settle with Usyk, who defeated Dubois by knockout in August 2023 and also holds two decision wins over Joshua.
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