PARIS.- The Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk announced this Friday on his Instagram profile that he is renouncing his three world heavyweight championship belts (AMB, WBC and IBF), pointing out that he plans to participate in one last fight, without giving further details.
“I want to release all the belts that I currently hold (…) I return the belts, but I do not leave the sport because I still want my last dance,” wrote the 39-year-old boxer.
On May 24, before the pyramids of Giza in EgyptUsyk was close to defeat against the Dutchman Rico Verhoevenkickboxing icon and almost debutant in boxing, but the Ukrainian was able to achieve victory.
Usyk remains undefeated in 24 professional fights.
The boxer originally from Crimea He imposed himself as the monarch of the premier category in recent years, defeating the other three great stars of this era: Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Duboiseach on two occasions.
On his Instagram account, Usyk emphasizes that his decision also seeks to help “the boys who are waiting to be able to box.”
Thus he gives a symbolic relief in the world boxing hierarchy.
The French heavyweight Tony Yoka and the Russian Murat Gassiev They face each other on July 11 and the winner of the fight should be the official candidate to challenge Usyk in the AMB (World Boxing Association).
A national icon
Usyk is a true legend in his country and concluded his message this Friday with an expressive “Glory to Ukraine!”.
In recent years, the boxer has repeatedly shown his support for the Ukrainian people, since the Russian invasion of February 2022. At the beginning of the war he even served as a volunteer in the army.
His victories in the ring are often accompanied by enthusiastic messages from Ukrainian political leaders.
His memorable fight against Fury on December 21, 2024 in Riyadh was especially celebrated by the president Volodymyr Zelensky and by the mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschkothe latter a former world heavyweight boxing champion.
