Undisputed heavyweight world champion Usyk vacates IBF belt

Oleksandr Usyk, the Ukrainian boxer, has announced his decision to relinquish his IBF title shortly after becoming the undisputed world heavyweight champion.

He secured the IBF, WBO, WBA, and WBC belts by defeating Tyson Fury in a split decision in Saudi Arabia recently.

Due to his contractual obligations for a rematch with Tyson Fury, Usyk is unable to defend the IBF title against interim champion Daniel Dubois, who is the mandatory challenger.

Consequently, the anticipated all-British bout between Dubois and Anthony Joshua at Wembley in September may now be for the vacant IBF title.

In a video shared on social media, Usyk conveyed, "Anthony and Daniel, take note. I understand the significance of the IBF title to you. Consider it my gift to you on September 21st."

The last heavyweight to unify the major belts before Usyk was Britain's Lennox Lewis in 1999.