Usyk Holds Steady at No. 2 in Pound-for-Pound Rankings After Vacating Titles

Oleksandr Usyk and His Career Plans

According to Главком: Oleksandr Usyk has retained the second spot in The Ring magazine's pound-for-pound rankings. The boxer recently announced his decision to vacate all his championship belts, but he made it clear he is not retiring. Usyk, a former world champion in the heavyweight division under the WBC, WBA, and IBF banners, emphasized that his focus remains on securing major fights.

In his most recent bout, which took place on May 23, Usyk defeated Rico Verhoeven. That victory marked the 25th win of the Ukrainian boxer's professional career. During post-fight comments, Usyk stated:

“No, I’m not retiring yet. There’s at least one more big fight ahead. Who it will be against is too early to say. We’re exploring various options. What matters to me is that it’s a major challenge, a huge event, and terms that reflect the journey we’ve been on. Once a decision is made, I’ll be sure to announce it.”

Usyk also added: “I’ve already proven everything I wanted to prove in the ring. Every championship belt was a great honor for me. Today, I’m only interested in big fights, big events, and worthy challenges. That’s why I deliberately vacated the belts-so the heavyweight division can stay active and grow, and other fighters can get their chance.”

The Pound-for-Pound Rankings

The top spot in the pound-for-pound rankings is held by Naoya Inoue, the undisputed world champion in the junior featherweight division. Also cracking the top 10 is Jaron Ennis, the WBA world champion in the junior middleweight class. Here is The Ring's current pound-for-pound list:

• 1. Naoya Inoue
• 2. Oleksandr Usyk
• 3. Shakur Stevenson
• 4. Jesse Rodriguez
• 5. David Benavidez
• 6. Dmitry Bivol
• 7. Junto Nakatani
• 8. Devin Haney
• 9. Jaron Ennis
• 10. Oscar Collazo

This means Usyk remains a central figure in global boxing, even after choosing to vacate his titles.

These developments show that Usyk intends to stay at the heart of the sport despite the shifts in his career. Vacating his belts could create new opportunities for younger fighters, but for Usyk, it also opens the door to fresh challenges that might elevate his standing in the boxing world. Fans and analysts will be closely watching his next moves, as any future bout could shape the next chapter of his career.

Usyk's decision to vacate his titles has sparked significant discussions about his future in the ring. His focus on major challenges raises questions about potential matchups, particularly with Anthony Joshua. For insights into how this strategic move could pave the way for a clash between these two heavyweight stars, read more about Usyk's relinquishment of three championship belts.