Unbeaten Oleksandr Usyk, the heavyweight champion, revealed on social media that he will be relinquishing his IBF title. This move enables Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois to vie for it on September 21st at Wembley Stadium in London.
This decision was crucial for Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs) and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, who were reluctant to proceed with a risky fight against Dubois (21-2, 20 KOs) without the title on the line.
With the IBF title now available, Joshua and Dubois have no reason to dodge the challenge unless they opt for a safer opponent to keep open the chance of facing Tyson Fury later on.
Dubois, a rising 26-year-old star, poses a significant threat to the 34-year-old Joshua, having recently defeated Filip Hrgovic and Jarrell Miller. In a previous encounter, Dubois even seemed to have knocked out Usyk, though it was ruled a low blow after review by the referee.
A loss to Dubois on September 21st could put Joshua’s future lucrative battle with Fury at risk. A showdown with Fury for the undisputed championship could still happen, but the interest may wane if Joshua goes into the match following a loss to Dubois.
In a surprising move, Usyk described his decision to vacate the IBF title as a “gift” to Joshua and Dubois for their impending clash, adding an intriguing twist to the heavyweight division narrative.
The news of Usyk stepping down from the IBF title comes as a setback for Fury (34-1-1, 24 KOs) as it means his rematch with Usyk for the WBA, WBC, and WBO titles will not be for the undisputed heavyweight championship, with only three belts on the line.
Fury voiced frustration about the decision in his previous bout against Usyk, hinting at political influences affecting the outcome. Despite this setback, Fury remains steadfast in his goal to reclaim championship status in the heavyweight division.
