Oleksandr Usyk's recent victory over Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia made him the undisputed heavyweight champion. However, this win has come with significant consequences. Immediately following his victory, Usyk was medically suspended by the British Boxing Board of Control until June 2nd and he is set to be stripped of his IBF title.
The suspension, as reported by BoxRec, aligns with health protocols mainly concerning a claimed injury during the fight—a broken jaw which Fury later attested to as minor discomfort needing only a week's recovery. Aside from his personal health, Usyk faces professional setbacks due to contractual obligations for a rematch with Fury that conflict with the International Boxing Federation (IBF)'s regulations on mandatory defenses.
Usyk's stripping of the IBF title stems from these mandatory defense rules implemented by the IBF. The federation insists on timely defenses against mandatory challengers, but the planned rematch delays any such possibility. Consequently, Filip Hrgovic and Daniel Dubois are slated to contend for the soon-to-be-vacant title in June, with a likely bout against Anthony Joshua following in September.
Despite these challenges, Usyk remains focused on his personal life rather than the future fight or potential loss of his title.
The IBF has been stringent about its championship rules. The last defense before immovable deadlines took place in 2020 when Anthony Joshua fought Kubrat Pulev. Moreover, Filip Hrgovic had secured his position as a mandatory challenger by defeating Zhilei Zhang in 2022 demonstrating the ongoing reshuffles within IBF's rankings.
