FILE: Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk reacts after defeating Netherlands’ Rico Verhoeven (off frame) by TKO during their WBC World Heavyweight Championship ‘Glory in Giza’ boxing match at the Pyramids of Giza on May 23, 2026. Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP.
Heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk said on Friday that he was vacating his three boxing world title belts but is not retiring.
The 39-year-old Ukrainian, who is unbeaten in his professional career, said that he wanted “to make them free so that the guys who are in line for them can box”.
Usyk’s announcement came just a month after he came close to a shock upset defeat to Kick-boxer Rico Verhoeven.
Usyk needed a highly-controversial 11th-round stoppage to turn the tables on the Dutchman, who had been leading on the scorecards up to that point despite taking part in only his second boxing bout.
