Oleksandr Usyk has said he is giving up his IBF belt, meaning he is no longer the undisputed heavyweight champion.
The unbeaten Ukrainian overcame Tyson Fury on points in a split decision to become the first single world champion in heavyweight boxing since Lennox Lewis 25 years prior in May.
After Fury’s electrifying performance in Saudi Arabia, Usyk, who came into the historic battle as the WBO, WBA, and IBF champion, added Fury’s WBC title to his collection.
Although a rematch is already scheduled for December, the four titles will not be up for grabs.
Five weeks after creating history, Usyk has announced that he will give up the IBF title, which is now anticipated to be contested on September 21 between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois.
It was decided before the Fury fight that the winner of that match would either have to give up the IBF belt or face the obligatory challenger chosen by the sanctioning board.
Usyk’s declaration on Tuesday was anticipated, since a rematch between Fury and Usyk was already set in stone.
It is anticipated that on Wednesday, the battle between Joshua and Dubois will be officially announced for Wembley Stadium in the autumn.
Joshua hopes to become a three-time world champion when he fights Dubois, who is the IBF’s mandatory opponent after his victory over Filip Hrgovic in May.
“I know the IBF title is important to you, Anthony and Daniel,” Usyk stated in a video clip that was posted on social media on Wednesday night.
“This is my gift to you on September 21st,”
Usyk has already defeated Dubois and Joshua handily. The Ukrainian defeated Joshua in September 2021 with a brilliant performance to win his world titles, which he successfully defended a year later.
Usyk defeated Dubois in the ninth round of their bout in Poland during his subsequent championship defense.