Oleksandr Usyk: IBF Belt Set to be Stripped Amidst Rematch Plans with Tyson Fury

Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury Rematch Prospects

Oleksandr Usyk’s reign as the undisputed world heavyweight champion might be short-lived as he is expected to face Tyson Fury in an immediate rematch. The recent unification fight in Saudi Arabia saw Usyk conquer Fury, claiming the WBC, WBA, WBO, and IBF heavyweight belts. However, this could soon change as the IBF belt is likely to be stripped from Usyk.

Daniel Dubois’ Title Shot

With the IBF belt potentially becoming vacant, Britain’s Daniel Dubois is positioned to seize the opportunity. Dubois is set to clash with Filip Hrgovic for the IBF title on June 1. Frank Warren, promoter for both Fury and Dubois, shared his thoughts on the situation, telling Sky Sports, “He’s [Usyk] done something no one else has done. He’s unified the four belts.”

Warren continued, “Four belts on the line is the start. I’m quite sure they’ll fragment after that. And then it’ll happen again. We’re in such a good place as a sport and there’s such good things happening you just can’t see it ending, because there’s so many good fights to be made.”

Future Fights and Opportunities

The anticipated rematch between Usyk and Fury is only the beginning. Warren highlighted the plethora of exciting matchups on the horizon. “We’ve got the [Usyk vs Fury] rematch, provided AJ keeps winning [he can be in the mix], and then you’ve got all our youngsters coming through.”

One such potential bout is between Dubois and Anthony Joshua. Joshua, who watched Usyk’s victory over Fury from ringside, could find himself in contention for the IBF title sooner than expected. Warren expressed his enthusiasm for this matchup, saying, “I’d love to see that happen [Joshua fight the Hrgovic vs Dubois winner]. I’d like to see Daniel come through, I’d love to see an all-Brit affair, who knows? We’ll see.”

Agit Kabayel in the Mix

Adding another layer of intrigue, German contender Agit Kabayel is also eyeing a shot at Usyk. Kabayel recently secured a significant victory by stopping Frank Sanchez in their WBC title eliminator. Reflecting on his past near-miss with Fury, Kabayel shared, “The fight was close, the contract was finished but Corona[virus] you know. But no problem. Tyson, for me he’s like my mentor, my big brother, he helped me a lot.”

Kabayel’s readiness for a title fight is evident as he stated, “If it’s [title fight] coming, it’s coming, I’m ready. We will see.”

Conclusion

The heavyweight division is brimming with potential and excitement. Usyk’s immediate future may involve a rematch with Fury, but the likelihood of the IBF belt being stripped opens doors for other contenders. Daniel Dubois, Filip Hrgovic, and even Anthony Joshua stand ready to seize their moments. As Frank Warren aptly put it, the sport is in a good place with many thrilling battles on the horizon.