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Oleksandr Usyk — the undefeated undisputed heavyweight world champion — has voluntarily vacated all three of his belts at once: the WBC, WBA and IBF. The key detail: this isn’t a retirement. Usyk confirmed he’ll fight exactly one more time in his career — and, according to available reports, the most likely opponent is Deontay Wilder, under Dana White’s new boxing promotion, Zuffa Boxing.
Why Usyk gave up the belts while still undefeated
The 39-year-old Ukrainian explained the decision as wanting to determine the final chapter of his career himself — rather than letting mandatory title defenses and the demands of three separate sanctioning bodies dictate his opponent and schedule. In Usyk’s own words, he wants his “last fight” on his own terms, not under the mandatory obligations of holding three belts at once.
What happens to the titles now
Usyk vacating the belts automatically reshuffles the heavyweight division: Agit Kabayel is now recognized as the full WBC champion, Murat Gassiev as the full WBA champion. The IBF belt remains vacant — mandatory challenger Frank Sanchez will now face Moses Itauma directly for the title rather than in an eliminator.
| Organization | Status after Usyk’s decision |
|---|---|
| WBC | Full champion — Agit Kabayel |
| WBA | Full champion — Murat Gassiev |
| IBF | Vacant — Sanchez vs. Itauma for the title |
The farewell fight: Wilder and Zuffa Boxing
According to Usyk’s team, the priority target for his final fight is Deontay Wilder, the former WBC champion. The promotion under discussion is Zuffa Boxing — Dana White’s new boxing venture. A stadium venue in New York is being discussed, with a timeline of late 2026 or early 2027. Nothing is confirmed yet — no contract, no venue, and no date has been officially locked in.
What this means for betting
The IBF title being settled in a standalone Sanchez vs. Itauma bout, plus Kabayel and Gassiev’s new status as full champions, opens up several fresh heavyweight markets that simply didn’t exist before Usyk’s decision. A separate, genuinely interesting market is the “farewell fight” itself: if Wilder vs. a 39-year-old Usyk actually happens, the line on that bout will be one of the most talked-about in boxing in years — and the promotional uncertainty (Zuffa Boxing is still a new entrant to the market) adds its own volatility to props on venue, date, and broadcast.
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