Usyk Vacates Heavyweight Belts, Vows Career Continues

Undisputed heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk has declared he will relinquish all the belts he currently holds, including the WBA 'super', WBC, and IBF titles. The 39-year-old Ukrainian, who boasts an undefeated professional record of 25 wins, emphasized that this decision does not signal his retirement from the sport.

In a statement shared on X, Usyk described his move as "a well-considered decision that I am confident will open new opportunities for me." He reassured fans that "this is not the end of the story. The continuation lies ahead." Usyk intends to make the vacated titles available for the next contenders in line to fight for them.

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This is a well-considered decision that I am confident will open new opportunities for me. This is not the end of the story. The continuation lies ahead.

Usyk previously mentioned in the lead-up to his last fight in May, a victory over Rico Verhoeven, that he planned to compete in two more bouts before considering retirement. He reiterated this sentiment in a video message, stating, "I want to vacate all the belts that I currently hold to make them available for the guys next in line to fight for them. Friends, I'm leaving the belts but not the sport because I still have my last dance."

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I want to vacate all the belts that I currently hold to make them available for the guys next in line to fight for them. Friends, I'm leaving the belts but not the sport because I still have my last dance.