Heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk says he will vacate all his belts – but is not retiring.

The 39-year-old, who has an undefeated professional record of 25 wins, held the WBA ‘super’, WBC and IBF belts.

“This is a well-considered decision that I am confident will open new opportunities for me. This is not the end of the story. The continuation lies ahead,” he said on X.

The Ukrainian said in the build-up to his last fight in May – a gritty win over Rico Verhoeven in Egypt – that he still wanted to fight on two more occasions before considering whether to hang up the gloves.

In a video message posted on Friday he added: “I want to vacate all the belts that I currently hold to make them available for the guys next in line to fight for them.

“Friends, I’m leaving the belts but not the sport because I still have my last dance.”

Two-time undisputed world champion Usyk was pushed to his limits by Verhoeven, who had competed only once in boxing but had a formidable record from kickboxing, eventually finishing the fight late in the 11th round.

Mandatory challengers are enforced on a rotating basis between sanctioning bodies, and the WBC had ordered Usyk to fight Agit Kabayel next.

The undefeated German is widely viewed as the most deserving contender yet to receive his opportunity. And with the sanctioning bodies now having a decision to make, he could be elevated to champion.

A rematch with Verhoeven may now make sense for Usyk.

Having dominated the cruiserweight division, Usyk made his heavyweight debut in 2019 and went on to defeat both Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury twice.

Briton Daniel Dubois, who lost to twice to Usyk, holds the WBO belt after defeating Fabio Wardley earlier this year.

Usyk vacating his belts blows the heavyweight division wide open.

For so long, everything at the top of the sport has revolved around the Kyiv fighter.

He has held the belts and contenders have been waiting for their turn. Now, suddenly and unexpectedly, there are openings everywhere.

WBC ‘interim’ champion Kabayel has been waiting for his shot and is the most deserving of a crack at a world title. Frank Sanchez is ranked number one with the IBF. Murat Gassiev holds the WBA ‘regular’ title. Closer to home, Moses Itauma can see a world-title route beginning to open up in front of him.

For generational great Usyk, the decision shows that he may be nearing the end.

By giving up the belts, he is stepping away from mandatories, the politics and the pressure to keep defending against whoever is next in line.

He says this is not the last dance, but it does give him the freedom to decide what that final act looks like.

More to follow.