BoxingScene: WBO Not Upset About Usyk Vacating the Belt

BoxingScene reports comments from an official familiar with the position of Oleksandr Usyk, the WBA, WBC and IBF Heavyweight champion, regarding his decision to vacate the WBO title. In a statement to the outlet, the source called Usyk’s move “a business decision.”

A sanctioning body receives 3% of its champions’ purses. As the source pointed out, the WBO was not particularly disappointed by Usyk’s departure, as the popularity of Moses Itauma continues to grow.

“We will have a new Heavyweight champion soon,” one WBO representative said.

In addition, WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman stated that he does not feel obligated to coordinate the order of mandatory defenses with other organizations.

“We tried to cooperate, but it didn’t work. There is no longer any concept of ‘next in line,’” Sulaiman said.

Recently, Usyk himself commented for the first time on his decision not to defend the WBO title.