Oleksandr Usyk has updated fans on the status of his undisputed heavyweight championship ahead of the announcement for Anthony Joshua–Daniel Dubois.
Usyk became four-belt ruler in May with a victory over previously-undefeated Tyson Fury. The pair will rematch this December, a plan that didn’t fit in with the IBF’s mandatory schedule.
The sanctioning body confirmed well before the fight that it would strip the winner if he didn’t immediately enter negotiations to defend the belt against the number one contender, at that time Filip Hrgovic.
Despite Usyk’s team petitioning to keep the belt so the Fury rematch would be for all the marbles once more, he has now revealed that he will vacate.
Joshua and Dubois is set to be officially announced tomorrow at a London press conference, but the Ukrainian took to Instagram to break the news that all fans have been waiting for.
“Anthony and Daniel, listen. I know IBF title important to you. [Consider] it my present to you on September 21.”
It will be Dubois’ second crack at world title since falling foul to Usyk back in August of 2023. He has since answered some questions surrounding his determination in the ring with wins over Jarrell Miller and Hrgovic to get him into this promising position.
Joshua now has his chance at becoming a three-time world champion. His second stint was ended by Usyk in 2021 and he failed to win the unified titles back in a rematch. A recent win over Otto Wallin put him at the top of the IBF rankings.
Joshua-Dubois will take place at Wembley Stadium and is set to have a bumper undercard given that it’s promoted by Turki Alalshikh’s Riyadh Season.
