Undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has formally requested an exception from the IBF to maintain his undisputed status for a rematch against Tyson Fury. This comes shortly after Usyk's split-decision victory over Fury in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he became the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999.
IBF president Daryl Peoples confirmed Usyk's request, which aims to delay the mandatory title shot for Filip Hrgovic, who has been waiting since 2022. Hrgovic was expected to fight Daniel Dubois on June 1 for the IBF title, but Usyk's historic achievement and the financial backing from Saudi Arabia's Turki Alalshikh could potentially keep Hrgovic satisfied and allow Usyk to hold all four belts.
Usyk’s manager, Egis Klimas, emphasized the significance of maintaining the undisputed title for both fighters, noting that it would be unfair for the rematch to be contested with only three belts. Klimas argued that if Fury were to win without the IBF title, he would lose the opportunity to be recognized as the undisputed champion.
Klimas expressed hope that the IBF would support the rematch as an undisputed fight, considering the rarity and importance of having a unified heavyweight champion. He pointed out the uncertainty of the outcome between Hrgovic and Dubois and stressed the importance of preserving the undisputed status that took a quarter of a century to reclaim after Lennox Lewis.
In the aftermath of his victory, Usyk is enjoying time with his family and celebrating his achievement. Klimas highlighted the recent success of Ukrainian fighters, including Serhii Bohachuk, Vasiliy Lomachenko, and Denys Berinchyk, attributing their triumphs to the strong foundation laid by Ukraine's boxing schools.
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