Why is Usyk, who has just become the absolute world boxing champion, about to lose his throne?

Boxer Oleksandr Usyk became the absolute world boxing champion after defeating opponent Tyson Fury, owning 4 heavyweight belts WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF. But he will lose one belt.

According to the Daily Mail (UK), Usyk is about to be stripped of his IBF ( International Boxing Federation) belt, because he cannot fight in the match scheduled by this organization on June 1 to defend his championship. Usyk just finished fighting Tyson Fury and also suffered a jaw injury, had to go to the hospital in Saudi Arabia for examination and missed the post-match press conference.

Oleksandr Usyk accepts vacancy and is set to be stripped of IBF belt

Ukrainian boxer (right) gets in an ambulance to go to the hospital to check on his jaw injury

“The IBF will therefore appoint Filip Hrgovic to face challenger Daniel Dubois for Usyk’s soon-to-be-stripped and vacant heavyweight title. The Ukrainian will therefore only nominally be able to hold the title of absolute heavyweight champion for less than two weeks.

Regardless, big and financially valuable matches await Usyk ahead. For example, the rematch with Tyson Fury is in the contract, with the financial split being 50-50, instead of 70-30 like the last match. In addition, the third rematch with opponent Anthony Joshua will also be extremely valuable. These matches will still be hosted by the authorities in Saudi Arabia, in the strategy of bringing the world’s biggest sporting events here,” said the Daily Mail .

Usyk (left) will rematch Tyson Fury later this year

Accordingly, after the match of the century that took place at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on May 19, boxer Tyson Fury, despite losing the match, still pocketed up to 150 million USD, while Usyk earned 65 million USD. However, when the two boxers fight again, this split ratio will change, possibly 50-50 or 60-40 in favor of the Ukrainian boxer because he is the reigning champion.

“Fighter Tyson Fury’s promoter Frank Warren has reminded him of the rematch clause in his contract, and they will activate it to organize a rematch scheduled to take place later this year. Mr. Turki Alalshikh, the organizer of the match between Tyson Fury and Usyk of Saudi Arabia, also spoke out about wanting to organize a rematch between the two fighters at the end of the year.

The winner will then fight another British boxer, Anthony Joshua, in the first quarter of 2025. These fights will certainly have a higher financial value than the recent match, although if Usyk fights again, he may no longer be the absolute champion,” the Daily Mail expressed.