Oleksandr Usyk has vacated his three heavyweight world titles but will not retire, promising at least one more professional outing before he hangs up the gloves, but in the eyes of one Hall of Famer, the Ukrainian has already ‘left the sport’.
Usyk struggled to overcome Rico Verhoeven back in May, with a late and controversial stoppage sparing his blushes and denying boxing of one of it’s greatest ever upsets, leading to many saying that the ability of the 39-year-old fan-favourite has perhaps declined.
Following the fight, Usyk decided to vacate his WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight marbles, with Murat Gassiev and Agit Kabayel being elevated to full world champions, whilst Frank Sanchez is expected to face either Moses Itauma or Bakhodir Jalolov for the vacant IBF strap.
Speaking on the Inside The Ring show, former two-division world champion and Boxing Hall of Fame inductee Tim Bradley said he believes Usyk has moved beyond the “sport” of boxing and into the “business” of boxing by choosing to relinquish his titles.
“I think that the Rico Verhoeven fight was an eye-opener for him to be honest with you. He struggled with him right, but then he was able to pull it off at the end.
“Relinquishing the titles, for me, you see the white smoke. He is done. He has left the sport of boxing, he is going to fight [again] but he has left the sport of boxing, he is in the business of boxing now.”
Usyk is currently being linked to a showdown with Deontay Wilder for what would presumably be his career finale, although it remains to be seen whether a solid performance next time out could convince him to postpone his planned retirement.
