Word was that Oleksandr Usyk would lose his undisputed heavyweight champion status just weeks after achieving it due to an IBF mandatory ruling, but there may be hope to keep all four belts yet.
After becoming the sole champion at cruiserweight earlier in his career, the elite Ukrainian completed the feat in a second division by beating Tyson Fury on points after a thrilling twelve rounds.
The historic victory makes Usyk the first boxer to hold the WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF titles in the top two divisions, and just the third male fighter to become undisputed in two weight-classes during the four-belt era.
Although the IBF has previously made it clear that the undisputed fight between Fury and Usyk was allowed to go ahead with the condition that the winner immediately face its mandatory challenger – currently Filip Hrgovic – the President of the sanctioning body Daryl Peoples told Boxing Scene that the decision could be challenged.
“As far as the IBF rules go, any reigning champion is going to be able to ask for an exception. Any reigning champion can ask for an exception to any IBF rule. They have the right to.”
Usyk’s promoter, Alex Krassyuk, then confirmed to World Boxing News that he would indeed request an exception for his man to keep the IBF belt and thus, given no other sanctioning body has ordered a mandatory as of writing, remain undisputed champion for a while longer.
Should it be approved, the landscape of the heavyweight division would change drastically. Hrgovic would not be fighting for the vacant IBF belt against Daniel Dubois on June 1, leaving Anthony Joshua – who was targetting the winner for September – further away from a fresh title shot than his team would hope. He may potentially have to go through Usyk again, who has beaten him twice already.
The news will be music to the ears of Tyson Fury, who may now have the chance to not only avenge his first loss in the rematch but claim the top prize. October is the target for the pair to run it back, with news expected to firm that up in the coming weeks.
