Usyk's Last Dance
Undefeated Oleksandr Usyk Vacates Heavyweight Titles for Planned 'Last Dance' Fight.
Key Points
Usyk had already vacated the WBO heavyweight title in 2025, meaning the latest move leaves him without any heavyweight world championships.
In a video posted on X, Usyk said: 'It's a good day to say that I want to vacate all the belts I currently hold... Friends, I’m leaving the belts, but I’m not leaving the sport because I still have my Last Dance.'
The 39-year-old is undefeated with 25 professional bouts and became the undisputed heavyweight champion after defeating Tyson Fury in 2024.
The move is framed as allowing Usyk to pursue a final, possibly one-off or multi-fight 'Last Dance' while freeing him from mandatory defenses and enabling him to choose his final opponents.
Usyk’s most recent ring appearance prior to the belt vacating was a controversial 11th‑round stoppage of Rico Verhoeven in Egypt in May.
Oleksandr Usyk has given up his WBA, WBC, and IBF heavyweight titles — all at once — ending his reign as champion while promising one last fight. The 39-year-old Ukrainian posted a video on X on June 26, saying: "I'm leaving the belts, but I'm not leaving the sport because I still have my Last Dance." Reuters and The Guardian both confirmed the move, which came just four days before a WBC deadline that would have stripped him anyway.
Usyk now holds zero heavyweight world titles. He had already given up the WBO belt in November 2025, according to Sky Sports. With 25 wins and no losses, he leaves as arguably the greatest heavyweight of his era — a two-division undisputed champion who beat Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury twice, and Daniel Dubois.
WBC Deadline Forced Usyk's Hand by June 30
The timing was not a coincidence. On June 22, the WBC told Usyk he had until June 30 to agree to a mandatory defense against Agit Kabayel or be stripped of his title, according to RBC-Ukraine. Kabayel, an undefeated German fighter, had held the WBC interim title since February 2025. Usyk chose to walk away on his own terms rather than fight an opponent he had not selected himself.
Kabayel reacted with anger to the news, according to Boxing News Online. He is now expected to be elevated to full WBC champion. The WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman said he was disappointed but confirmed the mandatory rules left no room for negotiation. Combat blogs like Bad Left Hook argued the vacation was a "tactical retreat" from a high-risk, low-reward bout.
Controversial Verhoeven Win Raised Questions About Usyk's Form
Usyk's last fight raised eyebrows across boxing. On May 23, 2026, he stopped Dutch kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven in the 11th round in Egypt — but just one second before the final bell, according to Matchroom Boxing. Two of the three scorecards had the fight tied at 95-95 at the time of the stoppage. Verhoeven weighed 258 lbs to Usyk's career-high 233 lbs.
Usyk earned an estimated $40 million from that fight, per Essentially Sports. Verhoeven earned $15 million. Despite the payday, analyst Ariel Helwani and others called the win "disgraceful." Verhoeven wasted no time responding to the belt vacation, posting: "The last dance. REMATCH TIME."
'Last Dance' Points to a Final Mega-Fight in the United States
Usyk's sporting director Sergey Lapin confirmed the plan is to end his career with a high-profile fight in the United States, according to ESPN. Las Vegas and New York are the rumored venues. By giving up the belts, Usyk escapes the 3% sanctioning fees paid to each title body per fight — fees that would cost him millions on a massive final payday. He also gains freedom to pick his own opponent.
The rise of Zuffa Boxing — Dana White's new boxing league launched in January 2026 — is a key part of the picture, according to DAZN. Usyk parted ways with promoter K2 Promotions in mid-2025 and is now a free agent. Industry insiders suggest his "Last Dance" fight could be the centerpiece of Zuffa Boxing's early card lineup, with a Verhoeven rematch or a crossover super-fight as the leading options.
Usyk's Exit Leaves the Heavyweight Division Without a Clear Leader
The heavyweight title picture is now wide open. Daniel Dubois holds the WBO belt — the only major heavyweight championship with a recognized champion as of June 26. The WBA, WBC, and IBF will each run their own elimination bouts to crown new titleholders, according to Boxing News. A tournament-style reset across all three bodies is expected in the second half of 2026.
Usyk met U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on June 12, just two weeks before vacating, according to Kyiv Post. The meeting fueled speculation about both a U.S.-based final fight and a possible post-boxing political career in Ukraine. An Ipsos poll from early 2026 showed Usyk with a 56% approval rating in Ukraine — second only to military leaders.
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