Oleksandr Usyk has vacated his WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight titles, walking away from the championships while making clear he is not retiring from boxing.
The unbeaten Ukrainian confirmed the decision in a video posted to social media on Friday, leaving every major heavyweight world title vacant and throwing the division’s title picture wide open.
“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. “I want to make them available to the guys next in line who can fight for them.”
He was equally direct about what the move does not mean. “I’m leaving the belts but I’m not leaving the sport because I still have a last dance,” Usyk added.
The decision follows his November 2025 call to relinquish the WBO title rather than meet a mandatory defense, a move that elevated Fabio Wardley to full champion. With the remaining three belts now surrendered, the WBA, WBC and IBF will each set their own paths to crown new titleholders.
Usyk (25-0, 16 KOs) leaves the heavyweight division unbeaten, having twice become undisputed champion in the four-belt era. His résumé includes wins over Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois, with two victories over each of Joshua and Fury. He remains The Ring’s recognized heavyweight champion.
The vacated belts have immediate consequences for the contenders left behind. Agit Kabayel had been waiting on a WBC mandatory shot, and the WBA and IBF must now sort out their next championship bouts without Usyk in the frame.
Usyk has previously named the opponent he wants for that final outing. Speaking to the Associated Press earlier this year, he said a trilogy bout with Fury was the fight he envisions closing his career. “In my head, Tyson Fury, it’s the last dance,” Usyk said at the time. Fury returned to boxing in 2026 after sitting out the previous year.
No date, venue or opponent has been confirmed for Usyk’s farewell fight.