Why Oleksandr Usyk Relinquished His IBF Title Weeks After Becoming Undisputed Heavyweight Champ

• Oleksandr Usyk beat Tyson Fury via unanimous decision last month to become the undisputed heavyweight champion
• The Ukrainian became the first undisputed champion in the division since Lennox Lewis unified three belts in 1999
• The Cat has announced on social media he will be relinquishing his IBF title, meaning he will lose the tag of undisputed

Oleksandr Usyk will no longer be the undisputed heavyweight champion just weeks after winning it, following the announcement that he will vacate one of his belts.

Usyk, who held the IBF, WBO, and WBA championships, defeated Tyson Fury by unanimous decision on May 18 in Saudi Arabia to claim the WBC title and become the undisputed champion in the division.

According to Al Jazeera, he became the first undisputed champion in 24 years, the first since British boxer Lennox Lewis unified the three major belts in 1999.

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Usyk to relinquish IBF title

After over a month as the undisputed champion, the Ukrainian shared a video message on his X account, announcing he will vacate his International Boxing Federation (IBF) title.

"Anthony and Daniel, listen. I know the IBF title is important to you. It is my present to you on September 21," he said.

The championship will now be contested by British boxers, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois, for their fight on September 21.

Why Usyk relinquished the IBF title

The news came as a shock to boxing fans, who were asking why The Cat was vacating one of his titles after just a month, having spent all his career working towards it.

According to The Athletic, Fury has a rematch clause for the two-fight contract signed between him and Usyk and the fight is slated for December in Saudi Arabia.

This means he would not be able to defend the IBF title against interim champion and mandatory challenger, Dubois, who beat Filip Hrgovic this month, forcing the former cruiserweight undisputed champion to relinquish it.

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Whoever wins the rematch between him and Fury will not be undisputed, robbing the Gypsy King of a chance at tasting history.

Usyk dedicated win to his late father

Sports Brief also previously reported on Usyk thanking his late father after beating Tyson Fury to become the undisputed world heavyweight champion.

The Ukrainian was in tears and dedicated his achievement to his late dad, who passed away after he won the Olympic gold medal at the London Games in 2012.