Usyk's Exit Opens Doors for Nigerian Boxers

The heavyweight boxing scene is now wide open. Oleksandr Usyk shocked everyone on Friday by saying he is giving up his WBA, WBC, and IBF world heavyweight titles. This move creates big chances for three Nigerians: Moses Itauma, Efe Ajagba, and former two-time world champion Anthony Joshua, who are all now in the running for boxing's top prizes.

Usyk, who has a record of 25 wins and 16 knockouts, made his announcement in a video on social media. He said, "Today is Friday, the weather is beautiful, and it is a good day to say that I want to vacate all the belts I currently hold. I want to make them available so the guys who are next in line can fight for them. Friends, I am leaving the belts but I am not leaving the sport, because I still have my last dance."

This decision ends one of the strongest championship reigns in the four-belt era. Usyk was the first undisputed heavyweight champion of this era and regained that title after defeating Anthony Joshua twice, Tyson Fury twice, Daniel Dubois twice, and Derek Chisora in a career that has been remarkable.

Sergey Lapin, who is Usyk’s sporting director, confirmed that this choice was made for the good of the heavyweight division. He said Usyk's final fight is likely to happen in the United States.

Now, the chance to become a new champion is spread across three boxing organizations. Each one will create its own path to find a new titleholder.

The WBC situation is the clearest. Interim champion Agit Kabayel is expected to be promoted to full champion. But the challenge to become his mandatory challenger is more complex. Tyson Fury and Joshua are set to fight each other, while Itauma's match against Filip Hrgovic on August 29 at the O2 Arena in London is a crucial one. The winner might get a direct chance at Kabayel if the WBC calls it a final eliminator.

At the WBA, Itauma is the top-ranked contender. The next four spots are filled by Jarrell Miller, Tyson Fury, Joshua, and Nelson Hysa. Efe Ajagba is in the ninth position. One option at the WBA is to wait for the upcoming Fury versus Joshua fight, which could be for a vacant super world title.

In the IBF, Frank Sanchez secured the mandatory spot by beating Richard Torrez Jr in a final eliminator on the Usyk versus Verhoeven undercard in May. Itauma and Hrgovic are ranked third and fourth, and their fight in August might set up the winner against Sanchez. Ajagba is also in the IBF's extended top 15.

For Itauma, the 21-year-old British-Nigerian star, Usyk’s decision speeds up his already fast journey. He has won all 13 of his professional fights, 11 by knockout and nine in the first two rounds. He knocked out former world title challenger Dillian Whyte in one round in August 2025 to take the Commonwealth heavyweight title. He is now ranked as the WBO’s number one contender behind interim titleholder Joseph Parker and is also high in the rankings of other organizations.

For Ajagba, Usyk’s departure marks the end of a long rebuilding phase. The 31-year-old fighter from Delta State represented Nigeria at the 2016 Rio Olympics. He has a record of 20 wins, one loss, and one draw with 14 knockouts. He faced a setback when a purse dispute cost him his IBF ranking and led to a six-month ban from IBF fights. He has worked hard to get back on track, breaking into The Ring magazine’s heavyweight top 10 in September 2025, making him the only Nigerian in the division's elite.

Joshua is also working on his comeback after losing to Daniel Dubois. He has expressed interest in facing Itauma for a world title in the future. Fury, who returned to the ring in April to defeat Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, is looking for one more warm-up fight before facing Joshua later this year. That fight could also be upgraded to world title status by one or more of the boxing organizations.

Usyk leaves the heavyweight division undefeated and is seen as one of the best fighters of his time. The division will now move forward without him, leaving the top contenders to battle for the titles he has vacated.