Oleksandr Usyk, the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, is set to lose one of his belts before he even steps back into the ring.
The 37 year old Ukrainian triumphed over Tyson Fury in a thrilling heavyweight showdown in Saudi Arabia, clinching victory via split decision with judges scoring the electrifying bout 115-112, 113-114, 114-113.
However, despite basking in his win, Usyk will soon be stripped of the IBF title as Filip Hrgovic, the long-standing mandatory challenger, refuses to wait for a contracted rematch with Fury.
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If all goes according to plan, Usyk and Fury are slated to face off again in October, with Fury seeking redemption. However, the IBF title will be vacated and up for grabs when Hrgovic takes on Daniel Dubois in June.
The victor of that match will then challenge Anthony Joshua at Wembley in September – just before Usyk and Fury are scheduled to clash once more. It remains uncertain whether the winner of the rematch, who will walk away with three instead of four belts, will attempt to reclaim the IBF title in their next move, reports the Mirror.
What do you think of Oleksandr Usyk losing one of his belts? Let us know in the comments section below.
(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
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For now, Usyk holds all the gold. But judging by his comments during the post-fight press conference, it seems unlikely he’ll lose any sleep over the impending loss of the IBF title.
Usyk’s training camp has been extended after his initial bout with Fury, originally scheduled for February 17, was cancelled due to the Brit suffering a severe cut above his eye during sparring. At present, Usyk’s main priority is cherishing quality time with his family, putting any firm comeback plans on hold despite being contractually bound to fight again.
“I don’t think about boxing now, please,” Uysk fervently expressed during a reporter’s query about a possible rematch. “My camp started in September 2023, I trained for nine months.”
“I missed Happy New Year, I missed my son’s birthday, I missed my other son’s birthday, I missed my daughter’s birthday and then the birth of my daughter.”
“I also missed family holidays. I was only focused on this fight, now I’m happy and I want to go back home.”