Oleksandr Usyk to vacate heavyweight championship belts, but is not retiring yet - 'This is not the end of the story'

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Heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk has announced he will vacate all his belts, but is not retiring from the sport as he confirmed "this is not the end of the story". The 39-year-old held the WBA, WBC and IBF belts.

Watch exclusive unseen footage as angry Fury heads back to dressing room after losing to Usyk

Video credit: TNT Sports

The Ukrainian said before his last bout in May, a gritty win over Rico Verhoeven in Egypt, that he still wanted to fight on two more occasions before considering whether to retire.

And he suggested on Friday that he would face one more fight before hanging up his gloves for good.

"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 said in a video message posted on X.

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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."

Usyk previously gave up his WBO belt last year, which upgraded Britain's Fabio Wardley to champion.

It meant he was no longer undisputed champion, a status he had enjoyed since victory over another Briton, Tyson Fury, in 2024.

Usyk vacating his belts will mean a very exciting heavyweight division over the rest of 2026 and beyond.

The 39-year-old Usyk's record is an outstanding one, standing at 25-0 with 16 knockouts. He twice beat Britain's former Olympic champion Anthony Joshua, in 2021 and 2022. His two wins over Fury both came in 2024.

Next in line to challenge Usyk is the WBC interim champion Agit Kabayel.

Usyk carrying belts became a familiar sight in boxing

Image credit: Getty Images

Speaking recently, Usyk's advisor Sergey Lapin said: ”At this stage, the question is no longer what Usyk owes anyone. The question is, what kind of event can be built?

”A serious offer, backed by serious people, the right commercial structure, broadcasters and site fee support, is how the biggest fights in the world are made. If the numbers and the opportunity make sense for everyone, then everything is possible. We are open to serious business, not noise.

”Nothing personal and nothing emotional will prevent this fight from happening with Agit Kabayel. But if there is no serious commercial structure behind the fight then it becomes difficult to justify.

"If the right opportunity presents itself, the fight can happen. If not, there are other paths and other major opportunities available.

”Oleksandr has earned the right to carefully evaluate every option. We are speaking with different parties and considering all opportunities."

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