The undefeated Ukrainian lost the WBA, WBC and IBF belts, ending the heavyweight belt.
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Oleksandr Usyk (25-0, 16 KOs) has vacated the WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight belts, ending the biggest rivalry in heavyweight history. The unbeaten Ukrainian leaves this stage without a unified champion, and it is not clear if he has fought for the last time.
The move follows Usyk's decision last year to relinquish his WBO title instead of making a mandatory defence, a move that saw Fabio Wardley promoted to full title, who then lost his title to Daniel Dubois. With the WBA, WBC and IBF belts up for grabs, the heavyweight championship is about to be contested in a punishingly vacant structure.
Few fighters have matched Usyk's accomplishments in two weight classes.
After winning gold at the 2012 Olympics, Usyk cleaned up the cruiserweight division, becoming the undisputed champion defeating Marco Huck, Mairis Briedis, Murat Gassiev and Tony Bellew. Rather than stay there, he moved up to heavyweight and did it again defeating naturally bigger men, defeating Anthony Joshua twice, Tyson Fury twice and Daniel Dubois to become the first undefeated heavyweight champion in a four-belt era. He leaves both divisions after beating all the elite fighters placed before him.
His departure quickly changed the image of the heavyweight title.
The WBC has ordered a mandatory defense for interim champion Agit Kabayel, while the WBA and IBF were also approaching mandatory title situations. Instead, each organization must now decide its next champion, opening the door for a new generation of heavyweight title contenders.
Whether Usyk has retired is unclear.
In the past weeks, there was talk of retirement by members of his team, but the coach who was not managed by anyone did not confirm that he has fought his last fight. He has also been linked to exhibition tournaments and other opportunities outside of the traditional championship arena.
Whatever the next decision, Usyk's legacy is secure. He leaves the sport as an undefeated heavyweight champion, an undisputed two-division champion, an Olympic gold medalist, and one of the most complete fighters of his generation. There are few champions who have won this game and they have little time to prove it.
Це всідяме хороший, яке, я сухойний, очкриє для мене нови можности. This is not the end of history. Онгевення попереду.
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This is a well thought out decision that I am confident will open up new opportunities for me. It is not the end of the story. To be continued. pic.twitter.com/tPRRWMsmbh
— Oleksandr Usyk (@usykaa) June 26, 2026
Last updated on 2026/06/26 at 1:16 PM
