The undisputed world heavyweight champion, Oleksandr Usyk, has confirmed he’ll vacate his IBF title, clearing the best way for Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua to combat for it in September.
The Ukrainian turned the primary heavyweight to carry the IBF, WBO, WBA and WBC belts when he beat Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia final month – however has been pressured to relinquish one of many belts simply 5 weeks after turning into undisputed champion.
With Usyk now contracted to a rematch with Fury, he isn’t ready to defend the IBF crown towards Dubois, who’s the interim champion and necessary challenger after stopping Filip Hrgovic in Riyadh earlier this month.
Which means Dubois’ anticipated 21 September bout towards Joshua at Wembley Stadium is now more likely to develop into a world title combat. In a video posted on social media, Usyk mentioned vacating the IBF title was “my current” to the 2 British fighters.
“Anthony and Daniel, pay attention. I do know the IBF title is essential to you. It’s my current to you on 21 September,” Usyk mentioned in a video on Instagram, with the caption including: “The world loves robust. Your pal, Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World, Oleksandr Usyk.”
The 37-year-old had reportedly requested to retain the IBF belt till December, so as to make his anticipated rematch with Fury one other combat for the undisputed title. Nevertheless, IBF guidelines meant Usyk would have been stripped of that belt except he fought Dubois first, so he has made the choice to vacate it.
Usyk accomplished the quartet of world titles together with his split-decision factors win over Fury in Saudi Arabia on 18 Might, including his opponent’s WBC belt to the WBA, IBF and WBO titles. He gained all three of these titles from Joshua with a surprising victory on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in September 2021.
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After defending his titles towards Joshua in Jeddah with a split-decision victory in August 2022, Usyk fought Dubois final yr in Wroclaw and gained by ninth-round knockout, establishing his first unifying combat towards Fury.
Since shedding to Usyk in Poland, Dubois has defeated Jarrell Miller and Hrgovic, each by knockout. Joshua defeated Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius and Otto Wallin final yr earlier than flooring Francis Ngannou inside two rounds in Riyadh this March.
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