Oleksandr Usyk may no longer possess all four heavyweight titles, but the reigning unified champion insists that his brief slip from “undisputed” status means little in the long run. Speaking at the WBC Annual Convention in Bangkok, the 38-year-old made clear that retirement is not on his mind - and that his hold over the division is far from finished.
Usyk’s relationship with the belts has been turbulent by circumstance. After becoming undisputed in May 2024 by adding the WBC title to his WBA, IBF and WBO collection, the mandatory order from the IBF forced him to vacate ahead of his December rematch with Tyson Fury. He reclaimed the IBF title this past July by stopping Daniel Dubois once again, only to relinquish another belt months later when injuries made a WBO defense against interim titlist Fabio Wardley impossible.
Despite the rotation of titles, Usyk reminded observers that he remains undefeated at 24-0 (15 KOs) and still holds the WBC crown. “The green belt is always my favorite,” he said. “Some people are saying I’m not undisputed champion anymore. Well, that is only temporary.”
Usyk appeared relaxed and even playful during the convention’s opening ceremony, joking about his surroundings with his trademark eccentricity. “I like Thailand. I thirst Thailand,” he quipped.
So, Usyk made one thing clear: his thirst for ruling the heavyweight division remains as strong as ever.
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