Oleksandr Usyk is no longer undisputed heavyweight champion after announcing he is vacating his IBF title.
The undefeated Ukrainian secured a split decision points victory over Tyson Fury in May to become heavyweight boxing’s first sole world champion since Lennox Lewis 25 years ago.
Usyk, who entered the historic fight as WBO, WBA and IBF champion, added Fury’s WBC crown to his collection after his thrilling performance in Saudi Arabia.
A rematch has already been confirmed for December but all four belts will not be on the line.
Just five weeks after making history, Usyk has confirmed he will relinquish the IBF belt which is now expected to be on the line when Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois fight on 21 September.
Prior to the Fury fight, it was agreed the winner of that bout would have to vacate the IBF title or fight the sanctioning body’s mandatory challenger.
With a rematch between Fury and Usyk already agreed, the latter’s announcement on Tuesday was an expected development.
That fight between Joshua and Dubois is expected to be confirmed for Wembley Stadium this autumn on Wednesday.
Dubois is the IBF’s mandatory challenger after his victory over Filip Hrgovic in May with Joshua looking to become a three-time world champion when they meet.
‘Anthony and Daniel, I know the IBF title is important to you,’ Usyk said in a video clip shared on social media on Wednesday night.
‘It is my present to you on 21 September,’
Usyk has already huge wins over both Joshua and Dubois. The Ukrainian won his world titles with a masterful performance against Joshua in September 2021, defending the belts in style a year later.
In his next title defence, Usyk stopped Dubois in the ninth round of their fight in Poland.
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