Oleksandr Usyk has vacated his WBC, WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles, allowing himself to determine his own retirement timeline rather than facing mandatory challengers. The undefeated Ukrainian, who has been undisputed champion at cruiserweight and twice at heavyweight, wants to fight just once more before hanging up his gloves.

Usyk's decision stems from a desire to avoid the bureaucratic demands of title defenses while still competing at the highest level. Sergey Lapin, CEO of Usyk's promotional company Ready To Fight, explained that the champion wants to author his own ending rather than let circumstances dictate it. This move opens opportunities for emerging contenders to establish themselves as champions.

The former Olympic gold medallist has already achieved remarkable success, defeating modern heavyweight elite with two victories apiece over Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois. His most recent bout saw a late-stoppage win over kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven in their crossover matchup, demonstrating he remains a formidable opponent.

Lapin emphasized that Usyk has earned his place in boxing history as an undisputed champion across two weight divisions. While the team focuses on the next challenge, the fighter will decide when the time is right to close his legendary career on his own terms.