Springfield, NJ, USA (May 25, 2024) - The IBF faces a critical decision that could shake the heavyweight boxing landscape. After nearly 25 years of anticipation, boxing finally has an undisputed heavyweight champion in Oleksandr Usyk. However, the IBF is considering stripping Usyk of his title because he has agreed to a rematch with Tyson Fury, which, according to promoters Frank Warren and Bob Arum, won’t take place until 2025. This potential 10-month gap has triggered the IBF's rule requiring Usyk to defend his title against their mandatory challenger, Filip Hrgovic.

Usyk has taken the first step to avoid being stripped by filing an exception to delay his overdue mandatory. This move comes just days after Usyk defeated Fury via split decision to fill the vacant undisputed crown. Fury’s representatives have confirmed plans to enforce a rematch clause, adding further complexity to the situation.

Mandatory challenger Hrgovic, who boasts a 17-0 record with 14 knockouts, is scheduled to face Daniel Dubois on June 1st in Riyadh, co-headlining with the Deontay Wilder-Zhilei Zhang showdown. Given the timing, it seems impractical for the IBF to declare that bout as one for a vacant title should they strip Usyk. More likely, if the IBF does strip Usyk, the winner of Hrgovic-Dubois might face Anthony Joshua in September in London for a now marginalized title. This scenario seems counterproductive for the sport.

Historically, the health of boxing has always mirrored the state of the heavyweight division, which for many fans is synonymous with boxing itself. An undisputed champion is crucial for the sport’s vitality. Presently, boxing is like a patient recovering from successful surgery. The pain is still there, but the procedure went well, and recovery is on the horizon. The IBF should recognize this and act in the sport's best interest.

Hrgovic, who has been the IBF’s top heavyweight contender since a disputed August 2022 win over Zhilei Zhang, is still developing as a professional and would be a relatively inexperienced title challenger. He has fought just twice since then, largely due to the mandatory challenger rotation system for unified titlists and difficulty finding willing opposition, even with an interim IBF title at stake. Dubois is in a similar position, but he has taken respectable losses and is also looking to establish himself as a legitimate top contender.

If Hrgovic wins against Dubois, perhaps Usyk could defend his undisputed title against his IBF mandatory in October. This would allow Anthony Joshua to continue rebuilding his credibility as the world’s number one contender, despite his two defeats to Usyk. Hrgovic needs more time—another 3-6 fights—to develop into a true title threat. Currently, he seems to be sleepwalking towards a title shot, which might give Dubois an unexpected chance on June 1st.

For now, the IBF should let boxing heal and allow the idea of a single heavyweight champion to permeate the media landscape and resonate with both casual and die-hard boxing fans. Stripping Usyk of his title would undermine the progress the sport has made in establishing an undisputed champion. The IBF has the opportunity to support the sport's growth by prioritizing its health over strict adherence to 'rules'.

The decision now lies with the IBF, and it’s expected to be made before the Hrgovic-Dubois fight, but not much sooner, as the request for an exception was only received recently. The threat of an immediately splintered reign surfaced once Usyk and Fury agreed to terms for their fight. The situation was further complicated when their originally scheduled February 17 date was postponed due to Fury suffering a cut during sparring, pushing back the historic championship showdown.

Usyk's journey to become the undisputed champion included winning the WBA, IBF, and WBO titles in a September 2021 points win over Anthony Joshua in North London, and repeating the feat via split decision in their August 2022 rematch. Hrgovic’s win over Zhang on the same show established him as the mandatory challenger.

An undisputed champion is essential for the sport's health, and stripping Usyk now would be a disservice to boxing.