Usyk vacates belts but is not retiring

Heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk says he will vacate all his belts but is not retiring. The 39-year-old, who has an undefeated professional record of 25 wins, held the WBA 'super', WBC and IBF belts.

"This is a well-considered decision that I am confident will open new opportunities for me. This is not the end of the story. The continuation lies ahead," he said on X.

The Ukrainian added in a video message: "I want to vacate all the belts that I currently hold to make them available for the guys next in line to fight for them. Friends, I'm leaving the belts but not the sport because I still have my last dance."

Usyk's last fight in May was a gritty win over Rico Verhoeven in Egypt. Verhoeven, a kickboxing legend, had only one boxing bout, but pushed Usyk to the limit before being stopped late in the 11th round. Leading up to that fight, Usyk said he wanted two more bouts before considering retirement.

Mandatory challengers are enforced on a rotating basis between sanctioning bodies. Next in line is WBC interim champion Agit Kabayel, an unbeaten German who has built one of the strongest recent resumes in the division. Briton Daniel Dubois, who lost twice to Usyk, holds the WBO belt after defeating Fabio Wardley earlier this year.

A rematch with Verhoeven may now make sense for Usyk, who had been ordered by the WBC to fight Kabayel next. By vacating his belts, Usyk blows the heavyweight division wide open. For so long, everything at the top has revolved around the Kyiv fighter. Now, suddenly and unexpectedly, there are openings everywhere.

Kabayel is the most deserving of a world title shot. Frank Sanchez is ranked number one with the IBF. Murat Gassiev holds the WBA 'regular' title. Closer to home, Moses Itauma can see a world-title route beginning to open up.

For generational great Usyk, the decision shows that he may be nearing the end. By giving up the belts, he is stepping away from mandatories, the politics, and the pressure to keep defending. He says this is not the last dance, but it does give him the freedom to decide what that final act looks like.