Oleksandr Usyk has officially vacated his heavyweight world titles, opening the door for Nigerian contenders Moses Itauma and Efe Ajagba to compete for the vacant belts. The undefeated Ukrainian, widely regarded as one of the finest heavyweights of his era, confirmed his decision on Friday, insisting he is not retiring from professional boxing.
Usyk confirms decision to vacate titles
Usyk announced his decision on social media, explaining in a video message: "Good afternoon friends, good afternoon everyone! It's Friday, the weather is beautiful, a good time to say I want to vacate all the belts I currently hold." He added: "I want to make them available so the guys who are next in line can fight for them. Friends, I'm leaving the belts but not leaving the sport because I still have the last dance." The former undisputed champion thanked the governing bodies that sanctioned his fights, saying: "I have great respect for all organisations and want to say there's more to come. Glory to God for everything, glory to Ukraine."
Usyk's announcement comes weeks after his controversial victory over decorated kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven in Egypt. Although Usyk earned an 11th-round stoppage, the Dutchman was narrowly ahead on one judge's scorecard before the referee intervened. Usyk had previously hinted that only a limited number of fights remained before retirement.
Nigerian duo handed golden opportunity
With Usyk stepping aside, attention has shifted to the top-ranked fighters of the sanctioning bodies. British-born Nigerian heavyweight Moses Itauma, who occupies leading positions across multiple world rankings, is a major beneficiary. Another Nigerian contender, Efe Ajagba, also remains firmly in contention among the top-rated heavyweights.
Boxing expert Peter Akinbo told Legit.ng: "Certainly. Itauma is definitely in line for one of the heavyweight titles that Oleksandr Usyk is expected to vacate. Of course, there will still be a fight for the belt, but he's firmly in the mix and is a genuine contender." Akinbo pointed to Itauma's impressive rankings: "If you look at the rankings, Itauma is right up there. He's near the top across several sanctioning bodies, and for one of them, he's even the mandatory or immediate challenger. You can verify that." He also backed Ajagba: "So yes, Itauma is absolutely in contention for a world title. And while we're talking about it, I'd also mention Efe Ajagba. He's another fighter who is in the frame for one of those vacant belts. So, I'm backing both Itauma and Ajagba as genuine contenders for a world heavyweight title."
Heavyweight division enters a new era
Usyk's exit has thrown the heavyweight landscape wide open. According to the BBC, Daniel Dubois remains an established titleholder after previously winning the WBO championship. The other governing bodies are expected to announce how they will fill the vacant belts in the coming weeks. The WBA already has Murat Gassiev holding its regular version of the title and is expected to elevate him to full champion status. Gassiev is scheduled to defend his belt against Tony Yoka next month, while Itauma sits among the leading contenders within the organisation.
Boxing Scene reported that the WBC could promote interim champion Agit Kabayel or order another title contest, depending on the decision of president Mauricio Sulaiman. The IBF picture remains intriguing, with no obvious mandatory challenger. Contenders including Itauma, Filip Hrgovic, Anthony Joshua and Bakhodir Jalolov could all become involved in negotiations for the vacant championship.
Itauma and Ajagba previously rejected title eliminator
Last September, reports from Sky Sports revealed that Itauma rejected an IBF final eliminator against Frank Sanchez after Ajagba declined the same contest. Victory would have guaranteed a mandatory title shot against Usyk while he was still champion. Instead, Itauma opted for a different path, extending his unbeaten record with a stoppage victory over former world title challenger Dillian Whyte. That decision may now prove beneficial, with several championship opportunities potentially becoming available simultaneously. Ajagba also remains positioned among the leading contenders and could soon compete for the biggest prize in heavyweight boxing.
With Usyk stepping away from the belts but remaining active, the heavyweight division enters one of its most unpredictable periods in years. For Nigeria, the timing is promising, with two heavyweight contenders now closer than ever to fighting for a world championship.
