Oleksandr Usyk has revealed the real reason behind relinquishing his WBC, IBF and WBA heavyweight titles last month.
The Ukrainian took to social media and announced that he has not only vacated his belts, but will also be having just one more fight.
In doing so, Usyk made a slight pivot on his original three-fight strategy, which he had outlined prior to colliding with Rico Verhoeven in May.
He then, of course, had a far more demanding clash with Verhoeven – a former kickboxing champion who had only boxed professionally once before – than many had anticipated.
In the end, Usyk engineered an 11th-round stoppage but, even so, his lacklustre performance made the majority of fans question his future in the sport.
It then came as encouraging news, for many, when the 39-year-old announced he would have one last dance before calling time on a phenomenal career.
The plan now, it seems, is for him to face former WBC champion Deontay Wilder, with Usyk telling FightHype that he was reluctant to hold the division up any longer.
“I continue training; I continue building my plan for my career. I [vacated] my belts because … listen, I’m a three-time undisputed champion.
“Now we have new, young guys who stayed in queue and waited for belts. Take all my belts. I have last dance.”
With Usyk vacating his titles, Agit Kabayel and Murat Gassiev are now respectively recognised as the full WBC and WBA champions.
The IBF belt, meanwhile, has remained vacant, with mandatory challenger Frank Sanchez having been ordered to face Moses Itauma, who must first complete his assignment against Filip Hrgovic on August 29.
