In the rematch between the Ukrainian and the Briton, the title of absolute champion will not be at stake.
The International Boxing Federation (IBF)will take its heavyweight title from the winner of the fight between WBO, WBA, IBO and IBF world championAlexander Usik and WBC title holder Tyson Fury.
As ESPN reports, the IBF made this decision due to the fact that Usyk did not defend their belt on time against the Croatian mandatory challenger Philip Hrgovic.
Since the Ukrainian and the British are planning a rematch immediately after their first fight, scheduled forMay 18in Riyadh, the IBF will strip the winner of his title.
This means that in the rematch between Usik and Fury, which is going to take place on October 12-13 in Saudi Arabia, only three major belts will be at stake – WBO, WBA and WBC, but not the title of absolute champion.
And the new holder of the IBF heavyweight title will be determined in the fight between Hrgovic and the British Daniel Dubois, which will take place on June 1.
Let us remind you that the winner of the Usyk-Fury fight will become the first absolute world champion in the heavyweight division in the 21st century.
The last “absolute” in the heavyweight division was Lennox Lewis, who won this status in 1999 when he defeated Evander Holyfield. Back then, the WBA, WBC and IBF titles were at stake. The WBO belt was recognized as equal in 2007, so the winner of the fight between Usyk and Fury will become the first ever “absolute” heavyweight with four major titles.
