Oleksandr Usyk vacates heavyweight titles after May win, eyes Wilder or Jones return

Oleksandr Usyk stuns boxing world by vacating all heavyweight titles

Oleksandr Usyk vacated all his heavyweight belts on 18 June, just days after his controversial 11th-round stoppage win over Rico Verhoeven in Egypt on 18 May. The Ukrainian superstar, 39, confirmed he’s not retiring yet and will fight at least once more before hanging up his gloves.

What happened in Egypt?

Usyk’s latest outing ended in a contentious finish. The 39-year-old outslugged Verhoeven in front of the Pyramids of Giza on 18 May, forcing a referee stoppage in the 11th round. The decision drew boos from the crowd and left many questioning the scoring. Days later, Usyk dropped a bombshell: he would vacate his WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight titles.

Why it matters for Oleksandr Usyk

The move keeps Usyk’s legacy intact while clearing the way for younger contenders. Johnny Nelson, the former cruiserweight champion, called Usyk an “average” southpaw on the Fight Your Corner podcast. Nelson argued Tony Bellew-who fought Usyk in 2018-was the more skilled fighter. Bellew admitted Usyk’s footwork left him gassed that night, but stood by his own claim that he outboxed the Ukrainian before fading.

Usyk brushed off the criticism. In a social media video on 18 June, he said: “It’s a good day to say that I want to vacate all the belts I currently hold. I want to make them available so the guys who are next in line can fight for them.” He added: “I’m leaving the belts but I’m not leaving the sport because I still have my last dance.”

Who could Usyk face next?

Sergey Lapin, Usyk’s team director, revealed two names on the Ukrainian’s hit-list: Deontay Wilder and Jon Jones. Lapin told the BBC that Wilder is the front-runner for a late-2026 showdown in America. The team is in direct talks with Zuffa Boxing-backed by Turki Alalshikh-for a marquee retirement fight. “We are in direct discussions with Zuffa Boxing at the highest level,” Lapin said. “At this stage, no agreements have been signed.”

The fight would cap a 13-year unbeaten streak since Usyk’s pro debut. Though Nelson’s “average” label stung, the Ukrainian’s resume still places him among the greatest pound-for-pound fighters of his era. His next-and likely final-opponent will write the last chapter of that story.