Oleksandr Usyk has announced that he will be vacating his IBF heavyweight title, leaving the path clear for Anthony Joshua to get his shot at becoming a three-time champion in boxing’s blue-riband division.
The Ukrainian was given an exemption from making a mandatory defence of his belt so that he could face Tyson Fury last month, and he was crowned undisputed champion after beating the Gypsy King via split decision in Saudi Arabia.
He has now agreed to a rematch with Fury on December 21, but all of the titles will not be on the line this time. Usyk took to social media to confirm he will be vacating his IBF belt on Tuesday night, with Joshua now expected to fight fellow Brit Daniel Dubois for it at Wembley Stadium on September 21.
Usyk started his video clip by saying: ‘Anthony and Daniel, listen. I know IBF title important to you. Take it, my present to you. On September 21 guys.’
The video caption also read: ‘Hey @anthonyjoshua, @DynamiteDubois, The IBF Belt is my present for you for 21.09.2024. The world loves strong. Your friend, Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World, Oleksandr Usyk.’
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Anthony Joshua is set to land the chance to become a three-time heavyweight champion
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He looks likely to fight fellow Brit Daniel Dubois for the vacant IBF title in September
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Oleksandr Usyk announced on Tuesday that he will be vacating his belt
Mail Sport revealed on Monday that Joshua’s next fight is due to be announced this week, and it now appears a virtual certainty that he will take on Dubois.
Joshua first won a world title in 2016 and remained champion for three years before his shock defeat by Andy Ruiz Jr at Madison Square Garden.
He exacted revenge and reclaimed his titles six months later, but was then beaten by Usyk in 2021, and lost the rematch the following year.
It has been nearly three years since Joshua last held a version of a world title, but he looks set to get another shot in September.
His likely opponent, Dubois, has never been world champion, and was stopped by Usyk in nine rounds last year.
But he has rebounded with two straight knockout victories, and will now get his chance at redemption.
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Usyk is vacating his belt as he will be facing Tyson Fury in a rematch rather than fighting his mandatory challenger next
Meanwhile, Usyk is fully focused on beating Fury again, but spoke recently about potentially moving back down to cruiserweight after the rematch.
Usyk, who has a perfect 22-0 professional record, was the undisputed cruiserweight champion back in 2018 before jumping up a weight class, but has hinted that he could drop down again in a bid to become the best 200lb fighter on the planet once more.
