Unified heavyweight champion vacates three world titles ahead of final fights

Unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk announced Friday that he is vacating his WBA, IBF and WBC titles while remaining active in the sport. The 39-year-old said the decision frees the belts for other contenders. "Today is Friday, the weather is beautiful and it is a good day to say that I want to vacate all the belts I currently hold," Usyk said in an Instagram post.

remaining career Usyk stated he is not retiring and intends to complete one final series of bouts. "Friends, I'm leaving the belts but not leaving the sport because I still have my last dance," he said. His sporting director, Sergey Lapin, said the decision was made with the future of the heavyweight division in mind.

"Oleksandr vacated the sanctioning body titles to give Anthony Joshua the opportunity to compete for and reunify them," Lapin said. Lapin added that Usyk wants his final fights to take place in the United States. "As for Oleksandr, his goal has always been to finish his legendary career with his final fights in the United States, where he wants to leave the last chapter of his boxing legacy," Lapin said.

Background and recent activity Usyk enters the announcement with an undefeated record of 25-0 and 16 knockouts. He recently defeated kickboxer Rico Verhoeven by stoppage in the 11th round. Usyk is the first male boxer to become a three-time undisputed champion in the four-belt era, achieving the feat once at cruiserweight and twice at heavyweight.

Usyk will keep the Ring Magazine title, which is viewed by many as the lineal championship.