The status of the IBF heavyweight championship has left fight fans puzzled following Oleksandr Usyk’s win over Tyson Fury. Usyk and Fury faced off in a thrilling 12-round championship fight at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Usyk secured a knockdown in the ninth round, turning the tide and ultimately earning a split decision victory to become the new unified heavyweight champion.

Despite a rematch clause in place, their second encounter may not be contested for undisputed gold. Filip Hrgovic is the mandatory challenger for the IBF heavyweight title, and with Usyk vs. Fury 2 likely to take place later this year, there are questions about whether Usyk will retain all his titles for the rematch.

BoxingScene.com spoke with IBF President Daryl Peoples, who provided some clarity on the situation. Peoples revealed that while the Hrgovic vs. Daniel Dubois fight set for June 1st is not currently a title fight, this could change.

“If (Team Usyk) asks for an exception, it goes to the (IBF) board of directors, and if the board grants it, then special conditions will likely be applied,” Peoples said. 

These decisions are ultimately managerial and promotional, and the outcome could affect Usyk’s status as the undisputed champion going into the rematch with Fury. Tyson Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, has indicated that the rematch is expected to take place in October.

As the boxing world awaits further developments, the potential loss of the IBF title adds another layer of intrigue to the anticipated rematch between Usyk and Fury.