Heavyweight champion Usyk says vacating heavyweight world title belts

Heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, 39, announced on Friday June 26, 2026 that he is vacating his WBA, WBC, and IBF heavyweight title belts, stating he wants to free them up for other contenders. The Ukrainian, who remains unbeaten in his professional career, clarified he is not retiring from boxing. The announcement came just one month after Usyk narrowly avoided an upset defeat against kickboxer Rico Verhoeven.