Due to the rematch against Tyson Fury, Alexander Usyk is unable to make the mandatory defense of his IBF belt and takes it off – making for a notable “replacement fight”
Alexander Usyk will only be the first unified world champion of all four professional boxing federations since 1999 until September!
Just over a month after his triumph in the unification fight against British superstar Tyson Fury, the Ukrainian heavyweight champ announced that he would not defend his IBF belt due to the rematch against Fury scheduled for December and would therefore resign.
Normally, the boxing federations are allowed to select a candidate against whom the world champion must defend his belt in a mandatory fight. However, because Usyk and Fury had already agreed on a rematch at the end of the year before their first fight, Usyk cannot make this mandatory defense.
By announcing his relinquishment of the IBF belt, Usyk pre-empted the threat of his removal by the federation, and the vacant title will be contested in a British duel on 21
September, former world champion Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois will now fight for the vacant title. In a video message, Usyk presented himself as a benefactor and told the two Brits: “Anthony and Daniel, listen up. I know that the IBF title is important to you. Call it my gift to you. “
He himself will now “only” fight for the WBA, WBC and WBO belts against Fury in Riyadh
