BoxRec

The heavyweight champion announces he is vacating all three of his titles but thankfully isn’t retiring.

BREAKING: Oleksandr Usyk has announced his intentions to vacate his unified WBA, IBF, and WBC heavyweight titles before stepping into the ring for his final fight.

Great. Who’s next in line for Kabayel?

He’s gonna be upgraded then to full championship status.

I wonder if that includes the Ring belt.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑26 Jun 2026, 12:33 Great. Who’s next in line for Kabayel?

He’s gonna be upgraded then to full championship status.

I think it'll be Fury.

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑26 Jun 2026, 12:33 I wonder if that includes the Ring belt.

Ring Mag tweet doesn’t say Ring belt.

Just the 3 org belts.

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑26 Jun 2026, 12:33

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑26 Jun 2026, 12:33 Great. Who’s next in line for Kabayel?

He’s gonna be upgraded then to full championship status.

I think it'll be Fury.

He defo ain’t fighting Agit as warm up. But then AJ later in the year. He’s got decisions to make

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑26 Jun 2026, 12:34

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑26 Jun 2026, 12:33 I wonder if that includes the Ring belt.

Ring Mag tweet doesn’t say Ring belt.

Just the 3 org belts.

I think he should rematch Rico and then retire.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑26 Jun 2026, 12:35

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑26 Jun 2026, 12:33

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑26 Jun 2026, 12:33 Great. Who’s next in line for Kabayel?

He’s gonna be upgraded then to full championship status.

I think it'll be Fury.

He defo ain’t fighting Agit as warm up. But then AJ later in the year. He’s got decisions to make

Yeah, I meant instead of AJ.

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑26 Jun 2026, 12:37

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑26 Jun 2026, 12:35

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑26 Jun 2026, 12:33

I think it'll be Fury.

He defo ain’t fighting Agit as warm up. But then AJ later in the year. He’s got decisions to make

Yeah, I meant instead of AJ.

Way more money in fighting AJ tho.

It's a bit ironic that Itauma & Hrgovic are ranked 1 & 2 by the WBO - the belt that Usyk doesn't hold.

I wonder if any others will want to sanction that for the title?

Top Five in Each Alphabet (I think this is current)

WBC - Fury Okolie Itauma Hrgovic AJ
WBA - Gassiev (2nd Champ) Itauma Miller Fury AJ
IBF - Sanchez Vacant Itauma Hrgovic AJ

Funny how Joshua is on all three despite not beating a ranked boxer for three years.

So our title fight schedule will look something like this right?

Usyk Vs Wilder/Verhoeven (The Ring)

Kabayel Vs Fury? Otherwise a voluntary against Ajagba, Wilder, Riakporhe etc (WBC)

Dubois Vs Wardley 2 (WBO)

Sanchez Vs Itauma/Hrgovic winner (IBF)

Fury Vs Hysa or AJ for WBA? There doesn't seem to be a clear path otherwise. Gassiev/Yoka Vs Miller? The WBA could call Itauma Vs Hrgovic for the belt which would actually make the most sense for them.

joshj909 wrote: ↑26 Jun 2026, 12:55
Usyk Vs Wilder/Verhoeven (The Ring)

All three in the ring at once would be fantastic.

Signing with Zuffa maybe?

Gassiev should be upgraded . But we know WBA don’t work like that.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑26 Jun 2026, 13:23 Gassiev should be upgraded . But we know WBA don’t work like that.

They have upgraded regular champions in the past on several occasions.
I agree they should and do away with regular title like they have said they would do on numerous occasions.
Put Gassiev in a mandatory defense against the highest rated available contender asap.

Controversial wrote: ↑26 Jun 2026, 13:00 Signing with Zuffa maybe?

I think he will

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑26 Jun 2026, 12:33 I wonder if that includes the Ring belt.

No sanctioning fees or mandatories come with that one right?

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑26 Jun 2026, 14:13

Controversial wrote: ↑26 Jun 2026, 13:00 Signing with Zuffa maybe?

I think he will

If he signs with Zuffa they're gonna do everything they can to make sure they find a man he can't beat in his next fight. They want control of the Heavyweight Championship.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑26 Jun 2026, 14:14

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑26 Jun 2026, 12:33 I wonder if that includes the Ring belt.

No sanctioning fees or mandatories come with that one right?

That true.

No need to give it up. No mandatories and no fees

You just need to defend against a top 5 ranked boxer every 2-3 years or so.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑26 Jun 2026, 14:44

gilgamesh wrote: ↑26 Jun 2026, 14:14

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑26 Jun 2026, 12:33 I wonder if that includes the Ring belt.

No sanctioning fees or mandatories come with that one right?

That true.

No need to give it up. No mandatories and no fees

You just need to defend against a top 5 ranked boxer every 2-3 years or so.

Do ya? Did they say that?

gilgamesh wrote: ↑26 Jun 2026, 14:15

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑26 Jun 2026, 14:13

Controversial wrote: ↑26 Jun 2026, 13:00 Signing with Zuffa maybe?

I think he will

If he signs with Zuffa they're gonna do everything they can to make sure they find a man he can't beat in his next fight. They want control of the Heavyweight Championship.

happy hunting

golden_labrador wrote: ↑26 Jun 2026, 14:49

gilgamesh wrote: ↑26 Jun 2026, 14:15

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑26 Jun 2026, 14:13
I think he will

If he signs with Zuffa they're gonna do everything they can to make sure they find a man he can't beat in his next fight. They want control of the Heavyweight Championship.

happy hunting

The question is now was the Rico performance down to complacency, Rico being really good, age, or just an off night?

Or all of the above.

It's a shame we probably won't see him against Kabayel.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑26 Jun 2026, 14:15

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑26 Jun 2026, 14:13

Controversial wrote: ↑26 Jun 2026, 13:00 Signing with Zuffa maybe?

I think he will

If he signs with Zuffa they're gonna do everything they can to make sure they find a man he can't beat in his next fight. They want control of the Heavyweight Championship.

They only have Opetaia and Ajagba. I could only see them using Opetaia against him