Oleksandr Usyk says he will give up all his world heavyweight titles before his ‘final chapter.’
Oleksandr Usyk has shared that he’s giving up his Ring Magazine, WBA, WBC, and IBF heavyweight titles as he prepares for what he calls his “last dance.” The 39-year-old, who is still undefeated with a record of 25-0, posted the news on Instagram last Friday.
In a video, he said: “Hello, friends! It’s a beautiful Friday, and I want to let you know I’m giving up all the belts I hold. I want to make them available for the next fighters in line to compete for.”
He added, “I’m leaving the belts, but not the sport. I still have one last dance ahead. Thank you all so much. I have huge respect for all the organizations. There’s still more to come! Glory to God and glory to Ukraine!”
On his social media post, he wrote: “This is a carefully thought-out choice that I’m sure will open new doors for me. This isn’t the end of the story. The next chapter is coming.”
From what he said, Usyk plans to fight one more time before he retires, although who he’ll face is still unknown. Last month, he had a tough time against kickboxing champ Rico Verhoeven in Egypt. He was also set to fight WBC interim champ Agit Kabayel, the mandatory challenger, but that fight was canceled.
Usyk’s advisor, Sergey Lapin, hinted recently that the undefeated champ might be retiring. He said, “Agit Kabayel is a fantastic fighter and a champion we respect. There’s nothing personal here, but big fights like this aren’t made on social media or by public pressure.”
Lapin went on, “Oleksandr has shown who he is throughout his career. Now, it’s not about what he owes anyone. The question is what kind of event can be created.”
He added, “If the numbers and chances make sense for everyone, then a fight can happen. We’re open to serious offers, not just noise. If the right chance comes, the fight will happen. If not, there are other paths and big opportunities.”
“But people should remember: when a fighter has done everything Usyk has done, every fight is special. Fans might have already seen his last match, or maybe there’s one more chapter left. We’ll find out soon.”
After dominating at cruiserweight, Usyk has taken the heavyweight world by storm, beating big names like Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Daniel Dubois. He’s sure to be remembered as one of the best fighters ever.