Oleksandr Usyk has vacated the heavyweight championship belts, opening the door for a new titleholder. Both Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury have been called out as potential candidates to contest the vacant titles.
Oleksandr Usyk has vacated the heavyweight championship belts, setting the stage for a new titleholder to be crowned, with Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury both emerging as called-out candidates to contest the vacant titles.
Usyk, known as "The Cat," departs as an undefeated heavyweight having compiled a perfect 24-0-0 professional record across his career. The 39-year-old southpaw from Ukraine, who stands six-foot-three with a 78-inch reach, represented one of the most technically polished fighters the division has seen. His vacancy now leaves a significant void at the top of the heavyweight landscape.
Anthony Joshua, 36, is among the names being called out to fill that void. The orthodox British heavyweight stands six-foot-six and carries an 82-inch reach, physical attributes that made him a dominant presence in the division throughout his career. Joshua trains out of Boxing Works and Team GB.
Why it matters
- Usyk's departure strips the division of its unified titleholder, creating a rare and immediate opening at heavyweight
- Joshua and Fury are the two most prominent names being publicly called out, signaling a potential blockbuster matchup for the vacant belts
- A fight between Joshua and Fury would represent one of the biggest all-British heavyweight clashes in boxing history
- The outcome would establish a new undisputed claimant and reshape the divisional hierarchy heading into the latter half of 2026
