Oleksandr Usyk makes desperate plea not to be stripped of world title

26 May 2024 , 09:02

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Oleksandr Usyk makes desperate plea not to be stripped of world title

Oleksandr Usyk has requested an exception that would see him maintain his undisputed status after beating Tyson Fury.

The Ukrainian won on points against fellow heavyweight champion Fury in their undisputed fight earlier this month in Saudi Arabia. Usyk added the only belt he needed to become undisputed at two weight classes having previously won all four major world titles at cruiserweight before moving up to heavyweight.

Usyk is set to be stripped of his IBF belt next weekend so the world title can be up for grabs in Filip Hrgovic and Daniel Dubois ' fight. Hrgovic has been the mandatory IBF challenger for almost two years but Usyk has pleaded with the organisation's president Daryl Peoples to not be stripped of his belt.

Oleksandr Usyk holds all four heavyweight world titles (PA)

"We’re waiting for a decision to be made,” Usyk's manager Egis Klimas told Boxing Scene. “I think it’s more important for Tyson Fury now. Oleksandr, of course, is a two-time unified champion and if the next fight is just for the three belts, I don’t think it’s going to be fair for either of the two guys. Either Tyson Fury or for Oleksandr.

“As far as importance, I think it’s more important for Team Fury to get this title. Imagine if Fury wins – he’s not going to be undisputed, so he is losing the chance. The rematch, the clause, was so both guys had the chance to be undisputed. I hope the IBF are going to make the right decision.

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“We don’t know who is going to be a winner. Hrgovic, who has been mandatory for a long time or Dubois. I think right now it would be the right decision for the IBF to say, ‘We’re supporting the undisputed’, which is also I believe in the rulings but we don’t know how it’s going to turn out."

Usyk and Fury will fight again in October but it's highly unlikely that all four world titles will be on the line. The Brit, who was handed a one-week medical suspension by the UAE Boxing Commission after his loss, will earn a massive £100million for his rematch against Usyk after making around £80million for their first meeting.

Harry Davies