Usyk Vacates IBF Title for Fury Rematch, Dubois vs. Joshua Set for September

Oleksandr Usyk, the undisputed world heavyweight champion, has vacated his IBF title to facilitate a rematch with Tyson Fury. This decision opens the door for Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua to fight for the now-vacant title in September. Usyk, who recently held the IBF, WBO, WBA, and WBC belts after defeating Fury, is focused on his rematch with the British boxer. As a result, he cannot defend the IBF title against interim champion and mandatory challenger Dubois. Dubois secured his position by defeating Filip Hrgovic earlier this month. This means his scheduled fight against Joshua on 21 September at Wembley Stadium will likely be for the IBF world title. Usyk addressed Dubois and Joshua in a social media video, calling the vacated title a "present" for them. Despite his attempt to keep the IBF belt until December, IBF rules required him to vacate it if he did not fight Dubois first. Usyk's decision marks a significant development in the heavyweight division, setting the stage for Dubois and Joshua to compete for the prestigious IBF title.