Usyk vacates WBC, WBA andvacates WBC, WBA and IBF heavyweight titles for final fight
Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk vacated his WBC, WBA, and IBF heavyweight championship belts on Friday 2026 to pursue a final fight before retirement.
This move clears the path for contenders in line for the belts to compete, marking a decisive step in Usyk's career transition. The decision matters as it sets the stage for Usyk's legendary 'last dance' and reshapes the heavyweight landscape for emerging fighters.
- Usyk won the Olympic gold medal in bantamweight boxing at the 2012 London Games before transitioning to professional boxing.
- The heavyweight division is the only class where all three major belts (WBC, WBA, IBF) were held simultaneously by a single champion in recent times.
- Usyk became the first Ukrainian to hold the unified heavyweight world titles after defeating Daniel Dubois in 2024.
