Why boxing’s heavyweight champion is relinquishing one of his belts

Oleksandr Usyk, the two-time undisputed heavyweight champion from Ukraine, has decided to give up one of his title belts.

The World Boxing Organization announced on Monday, Nov. 17, that it had received formal communication from Usyk’s team confirming he is relinquishing the WBO Heavyweight Championship he won more than four years ago. Fabio Wardley of Great Britain has been elevated to full heavyweight champion as a result.

Usyk, 38, last fought in July when he knocked out Daniel DuBois to improve to 24-0 as a professional and become the undisputed heavyweight champion for a second time in his career. He was also ordered by the WBO to face its mandatory challenger, Joseph Parker. Usyk was subsequently granted an additional 90 days after he cited a back injury. Parker chose to face Wardley last month only to suffer an upset.

Wardley called out Usyk after the match hoping for a shot at the champion, but those plans don’t appear to be imminent given Monday’s announcement.

‘After thoughtful consideration, Usyk has elected to relinquish the title,’ the WBO said in its statement. ‘The WBO extends its profound respect, admiration, and gratitude to Oleksandr Usyk, an undefeated, two-division WBO Undisputed World Champion, and a fighter who has earned and exemplified every right, privilege, and honor associated with the WBO Super Champion distinction. His career stands as one of the most extraordinary and historic of the modern boxing era.’

Usyk first won the WBO championship by beating Anthony Joshua in 2019. He then became undisputed heavyweight champion for the first time in May 2024 when he beat Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia. Usyk then elected to face Fury in a rematch last December and relinquished the IBF Heavyweight Championship because he did not face mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic. He regained the IBF belt by knocking out DuBois in July.

‘Oleksandr is number one, best in the world, but he chose not to face Fabio,’ Wardley’s promoter, Frank Warren, told BBC Radio on Monday. ‘You can look at it anyway you like, but the fact of the matter is that Fabio was ready to go.’

The WBO said it will deliberate on ‘the next relevant steps’ to determine Wardley’s opponent for his first mandatory title defense.