Why Oleksandr Usyk Could Be Stripped of One Title as Undisputed Heavyweight World Champion

• Oleksandr Usyk beat Tyson Fury to become the new Undisputed Heavyweight Champion
• Usyk is set to be stripped of the IBF title for failing to defend it against Filip Hrgovic next
• Lennox Lewis was also stripped of a title belt when he was the last undisputed champion

Oleksandr Usyk is on top of the world at the moment, but for how long?

The Ukrainian boxer beat Tyson Fury on May 18 to become the Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion, the first of the four-belt era.

Usyk now holds the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO titles, but his championship reign could last just a few weeks amid reports that could be stripped of one of the belts.

Why Usyk will be stripped of title

As noted by The Mirror, the champion will be stripped of the IBF title if he refuses to defend it against a mandatory challenger next.

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With Usyk and Fury agreeing to face off again in a rematch later this year, the IBF will strip Usyk of their belt and schedule a fight to find a new challenger.

Who will battle for IBF title?

Filip Hrgovic is the mandatory challenger. With no chance of taking on Usyk next, he will fight Daniel Dubois in June.

The winner will then fight Anthony Joshua in September, but it’s unclear whether Joshua will try to fight the winner of Fury/ Usyk 2 to unify the belts again.

Lewis was also stripped of title

Usyk would not be the first undisputed champion to be stripped of a championship belt.

IOL reported that Lennox Lewis was stripped of the WBA title after he chose to fight Michael Grant instead of the mandatory challenger, John Ruiz.

Lewis was the undisputed champion at that stage, claiming the title after defeating Evander Holyfield.

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Fury claims judges favoured Usyk

Sports Brief earlier reported how Fury was upset with his championship loss to Usyk.

The Gypsy King suffered the first defeat of his career when he lost by a split decision.

After the fight, Fury claimed the judges sided with Usyk because of the war in Ukraine.