Usyk vacates heavyweight belts, promises 'continuation lies ahead'

Oleksandr Usyk has vacated his heavyweight world titles. The Ukrainian champion says the move opens new opportunities and is not retirement.

“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.”

— Oleksandr Usyk, via BBC Sport

What Oleksandr Usyk said

Usyk unified the heavyweight division in 2024 and defended the collection in a rematch later that year. The former cruiserweight king held belts from multiple sanctioning bodies before stepping away from the hardware.

What it moves

The vacated titles will likely trigger mandatory scrambles across the heavyweight landscape. Usyk suggested he remains active despite surrendering the belts, though he did not detail his next move or weight class.

Source: bbc.co.uk. Full Oleksandr Usyk fight history and recent news at boxingnews.com.