Brief Reign as Undisputed Champion
Oleksandr Usyk’s reign as the undisputed world heavyweight champion was short-lived. After a spectacular victory over Tyson Fury in May, Usyk unified the WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO titles. However, his tenure as the undisputed champion ended just a month later when he relinquished the IBF belt.
Contractual Obligations and Title Forfeiture
Usyk is contracted to rematch Tyson Fury in December, which made it impossible for him to make a mandatory defense of the IBF belt. Consequently, Daniel Dubois, the IBF Interim belt-holder, was promoted to full champion in June. Usyk confirmed his decision to relinquish the IBF title through a video on social media, and Anthony Joshua is set to challenge Dubois for the IBF belt at Wembley on September 21, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
Potential Threats to Other Titles
WBO Title
Former champion Joseph Parker, who earned the WBO Interim heavyweight strap in March by defeating Zhilei Zhang, could push for a mandatory shot at Usyk’s WBO title. Parker’s promoter, David Higgins, stated that Parker is “next in line” for a crack at the WBO belt.
WBA Title
The WBA has a ‘regular’ heavyweight belt-holder, Mahmoud Charr, who aspires to fight for a major title. Additionally, Michael Hunter secured the WBA ‘Gold’ title after a points win over Cassius Chaney. Sky Sports has reached out to the WBO and the WBA to determine if Usyk is at risk of losing these belts as well.
WBC Title
The WBC has not named a mandatory challenger for its heavyweight championship. Agit Kabayel won an elimination bout on the Fury-Usyk undercard, but it was not a final eliminator. WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman confirmed that Usyk’s WBC title will be on the line in his December rematch with Fury.
Future of the Heavyweight Division
Sulaiman does not rule out the possibility of sanctioning a future fight between the winner of the Usyk-Fury rematch and Anthony Joshua if Joshua wins the IBF belt against Dubois. “Joshua is a very special unique fighter that has been closely associated with the WBC for many, many years,” Sulaiman said. He emphasized that the WBC aims to facilitate the best fights possible without interfering with the promoters.
Key Dates and Fights
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| May | Usyk defeats Fury to unify titles | N/A |
| June | Usyk relinquishes IBF title | N/A |
| September 21 | Joshua vs. Dubois for IBF title | Wembley |
| December | Usyk vs. Fury rematch | N/A |
Usyk’s journey as a heavyweight champion continues to face challenges, with potential threats to his remaining titles. The upcoming rematch with Tyson Fury and other mandatory defenses will play a crucial role in determining the future landscape of the heavyweight division.(yaman88)