Oleksandr Usyk vacates all heavyweight titles, teases 'last dance'

Oleksandr Usyk has vacated all three of his world heavyweight titles but says he is not retiring from boxing.

The 39-year-old Ukrainian announced in a social media video that he is relinquishing the WBC, WBA, and IBF belts to allow the next contenders in line to compete for them. "Today is Friday, the weather is beautiful, and it's a good day to say that I want to vacate all the belts I currently hold," Usyk said, per Bad Left Hook. "I'm leaving the belts, but I'm not leaving the sport, because I still have my last dance."

What happens to the three vacated titles

The WBC is expected to elevate interim champion Agit Kabayel to full status. Kabayel won the interim strap by beating Zhilei Zhang in February 2025 and defended it against Damian Knyba in January. The WBA holds a secondary belt through Murat Gassiev, who defends against Tony Yoka on July 11, but the sanctioning body could also wait for a potential Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua clash later this year to crown a super champion. The IBF's top contender is Frank Sanchez, who stopped Richard Torrez Jr in May. Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic, ranked third and fourth, meet August 29 in what could become an eliminator to face Sanchez.

Usyk had been under a WBC order to defend against Kabayel by June 30 or face a purse bid. By vacating, he sidesteps all mandatory obligations. Speculation now centres on a kickboxing rematch with Rico Verhoeven, though Usyk offered no details on his final opponent. The Ukrainian thanked all sanctioning bodies and promised more to come.

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• Bad Left Hook — Oleksandr Usyk vacates all titles, says next fight will be ‘last dance’: What happens to vacated belts?