IBF to Strip Title from Usyk vs. Fury Winner

The International Boxing Federation (IBF) has decided that the mandatory defense of the IBF heavyweight title (over 90.7 kg) against Filip Hrgovic (17-0, 14 KOs) is overdue.

The federation will strip the belt from the winner of the fight for the undisputed heavyweight world championship between WBA, WBO, IBF, and IBO titleholder Oleksandr Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) and WBC champion Tyson Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs).

Since Usyk and Fury are set for an immediate rematch, the winner of their first fight will be stripped of the title ahead of the Hrgovic vs. Dubois fight scheduled for June 1.

As a result, the rematch will not be for the undisputed championship, but for the four belts: WBA, WBC, WBO, and IBO.

The first fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury will take place on May 18 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The rematch is scheduled for October 12-13.