Heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has announced he is vacating his three boxing world title belts, but insists he is not retiring from the sport.

The 39-year-old Ukrainian, who remains unbeaten in his professional career, said on Friday that he wanted to "make them free so that the guys who are in line for them can box."

Usyk's announcement comes just a month after he narrowly avoided a shock upset defeat to kickboxer Rico Verhoeven. Usyk needed a highly controversial 11th-round stoppage to turn the tables on the Dutchman, who had been leading on the scorecards despite competing in only his second boxing bout.

"Good day to everyone. Today is Friday, the weather is good, and it's a good day to say that I want to vacate all the belts that I currently hold," Usyk said in a social media post. "My friends, I'm giving up the belts, but I'm not leaving the sport, because I still have my last dance."

Usyk held the WBA, WBC and IBF belts, and has been undisputed world champion at both cruiserweight and heavyweight. He boasts an unblemished record of 25 victories, including 16 knockouts.

Known for his excellent footwork and ring craft, Usyk looked a shadow of his former self in a labored performance against Verhoeven, who rocked him several times before being floored late in the 11th round.

Usyk's most iconic victories have been against British heavyweights Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois. He beat Joshua in 2021 to win the WBA, WBO and IBF belts, then took the WBC belt off Fury in 2024.

He had to vacate the IBF belt for his rematch with Fury but won it back off Dubois in July 2025, only to vacate the WBO belt a few months later. Dubois then beat Fabio Wardley in May to win that belt.

Usyk became WBO cruiserweight champion in 2016, adding the WBC strap in 2018 and later claiming the WBA and IBF belts off Russian Murat Gassiev, who has now been upgraded to champion.

Source: www.aljazeera.com