Oleksandr Usyk has dominated the heavyweight scene in recent years. He established himself as the pre-eminent boxer in the division with victories over Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois.
While he has never lost a professional fight, he has now chosen to vacate all his remaining world titles.
It marks a turning point for heavyweight boxing, with new faces and new names now vying to challenge for belts.
Sky Sports breaks down what will happen to the major championship belts…
WBC
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Highlights of the explosive heavyweight clash between Agit Kabayel and Zhilei Zhang
The WBC has moved swiftly to anoint a new champion. Agit Kabayel, the German heavyweight, has been their Interim titlist since he knocked out Zhilei Zhang in February 2025. That made him the mandatory challenger for Usyk and he was due to box next for the full WBC championship.
With Usyk looking at other options and vacating the title, the WBC has elevated Kabayel and he is now their world heavyweight champion.
Kabayel has been cited as a potential fallback option for Tyson Fury if his fight with Anthony Joshua collapses. Fury is a former WBC world champion and is currently rated as the organisation’s No 1 contender.
IBF
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Frank Sanchez found a massive right hand to demolish Richard Torrez Jr and put himself back in contention to face the best heavyweights in the world. Highlights courtesy of DAZN and Ring Magazine
The IBF has not yet ordered a fight for its heavyweight title. Frank Sanchez is its highest-ranked contender and the Cuban’s team fully expect him to be able to fight for the vacant belt.
He would need an opponent, though. After Sanchez the next highest-rated heavyweights in the IBF’s rankings are Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic. Itauma, still only 21 years old, is a hugely promising fighter, stepping up to world level to face Hrgovic on August 29. The winner of their fight could be positioned to fight Sanchez for that vacant belt.
WBA
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Murat Gassiev knocks out Kubrat Pulev with HUGE punch! Pulev vs Gassiev was the main event at IBA boxing at IBA Pro 13 in Dubai. Pictures courtesy of DAZN
The WBA already has a secondary or ‘regular’ world titlist at heavyweight in Murat Gassiev. Usyk was the ‘super’ champion, ie the full world champion and Gassiev will likely be elevated in the same way Kabayal was by the WBC.
“Oleksandr Usyk has said he will vacate his heavyweight titles, however, he must first submit his decision is writing to the WBA – only then will it be official. Once he does this, we fully expect Murat Gassiev to be elevated to super champion,” Gassiev’s promoter Al Siesta told Sky Sports.
“Then it is the goal of Murat to unify the division. However, first he faces a real test on July 11 against Tony Yoka in Moscow. We must not take victory for granted. God willing, Murat is successful – then we can move on and face the biggest names. Dubois, Itauma, Joshua, Fury. We are ready.”
Who will take over?
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Moses Itauma delivers ‘beautiful’ knockout to stop Jermaine Franklin in the fifth-round of their bout at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena. Pictures courtesy of X @DAZN
Last year Usyk vacated the WBO title. Daniel Dubois won that belt in his thrilling battle with Fabio Wardley. Dubois, a tremendous puncher, is expected to rematch Wardley later this year so wouldn’t be able to feature in any unifications until 2027.
By then Itauma could have made his name as the coming superstar of the heavyweight division.
Former Olympian and professional heavyweight Delicious Orie told Sky Sports: “Kabayel is doing very well for himself at the moment, but if you’re saying take over, I genuinely do think Moses is the man. It’s not just the boxer that can be a world champion, I think it’s the team.
“I know he’s got a fantastic promoter, that’s why I signed with that promoter. I think Frank Warren is a great matchmaker and I do think Moses will go all the way.”
