Gvozdyk About Usyk: «Take All the Belts»

Former WBC light heavyweight champion (up to 79.4 kg) Oleksandr Gvozdyk (20-1, 16 KOs) does not think that the potential stripping of the IBF heavyweight title from Oleksandr Usyk will affect the Ukrainian boxer in any significant way.

– What do you think about the IBF supposedly taking the belt from Usyk within a week and putting it on the line between Hrgović and Dubois?

– Honestly, this is the first I've heard of it, but... Well, take it, take it. Do you think it’s so important for Sasha to maintain this status right now? He became the undisputed champion; he’s already perceived as the undisputed champion. They can take all the belts if they want.

They want to make money because they understand that Sasha will be available no more than once a year. Of course, they want to make other champions to make money. But I don’t think it affects Sasha at all. Maybe it affects his ego a bit, but I wouldn’t worry about it.

On what grounds are they taking it?

– Supposedly, he needs to make a mandatory defense.

– He just won it a week ago, how can he defend it already? As I understand it, if there’s a unification, it automatically means you’re defending all the belts, doesn’t it? This is nonsense. I don’t think it’s right, but I wouldn’t worry about it,» said Gvozdyk.

The IBF may strip Oleksandr Usyk of his title due to his inability to defend the belt in a fight against Filip Hrgović, due to the mandatory rematch clause with Tyson Fury.