Oleksandr Usyk has announced he is vacating his IBF heavyweight title and has offered it up to Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois.
The undisputed champion has held the belt since outpointing Joshua in September 2021 and recently became the division’s undisputed king by beating Tyson Fury last month.But Usyk will not be defending the IBF in his rematch with Fury on December 21.
His decision has denied the ‘Gypsy King’ the chance to become the first undisputed British heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999.
Usyk has announced he is vacating the IBF strap in order for his former foes AJ and Dubois to fight for the belt – with an announcement planned on Wednesday for a Wembley showdown on September 21.
Taking to social media, unbeaten Ukrainian Usyk said: “Anthony and Daniel, listen, I know the IBF title is important to you.Boxing star Anthony Joshua leaves fans grimacing as he undergoes cupping therapy
“It’s my present to you on September 21.”
Usyk was previously under pressure from the IBF to defend against his overdue mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic.
However, Dubois stopped Hrgovic at the start of this month to claim the IBF ‘interim’ belt.
And now, as Usyk is vacating, Dubois will in fact be upgraded to become the full champion with Joshua challenging him for the belt on September 21.And Usyk’s decision has set up another potential undisputed affair in 2025.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn mapped out a potential plan for the heavyweight division when speaking to talkSPORT earlier this month.
Hearn insisted that the winner of Joshua vs Dubois and Usyk against Fury would face each other in either April or May next year.
Joshua is bidding to become a three-time heavyweight world champion after being dethroned by Usyk three years ago.
