Usyk's timing has always been perfect - Has he vacated heavyweight titles too soon?

The decision by the magical Ukrainian was a small shock, but it has allowed the heavyweight division to move forward and provided a small glimpse of what the future might look like without Usyk’s involvement. 

Last month, Usyk produced the worst performance of his incredible career as a miracle finish against Rico Verhoeven prevented one of the most spectacular embarrassments in sporting history. 

Usyk, the man who holds two victories over Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, and current WBO ruler, Daniel Dubois, was so far off the required pace against the novice Dutchman that he almost tasted defeat for the first time in his career. 

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The end for Usyk

Unable to have any sort of impact in the fight, Usyk, now 39, looked like a fighter on the way out and was only rescued by a late onslaught that brought a referee stoppage that drew widespread criticism from the vast majority of fight fans. 

Inquests began immediately for how poorly Usyk performed and although some believed his preparation may have been taken lightly, Usyk, always the consummate professional, will not have taken any shortcuts in his training knowing that a loss to Verhoeven would’ve been disastrous and far worse than the scrutiny that has accompanied him even in victory. 

Age, a lengthy career, periods of inactivity, maybe injuries, the awkwardness of Verhoeven, and Father Time are more suitable reasons when analysing Usyk’s off night, but the outing has prompted him to relinquish his belts and with his exit from the sport seemingly fast approaching, Usyk, who has often done the right thing, has struck perfectly again with this decision to let his belts go.

Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing

After Verhoeven, Usyk was approached by the man he just beaten regarding a rematch, but he was also faced by Agit Kabayel, the WBC interim champion, who is boxing’s most deserving world title challenger by quite a distance.

Faced with a dilemma after a gruelling battle, Usyk will have known that the tough challenges are set to keep coming and holding the number one spot in the division whilst waiting in the departure lounge will always make him a target. 

Not including Kabayel and Verhoeven, Moses Itauma is the new kid on the block and is about to make big strides in the next year and that would inevitably mean a showdown with Usyk.

Dubois is world champion again and looked much improved against Fabio Wardley back in May. Several contenders, whether beaten by Usyk or not, will have looked at the Verhoeven fight and have been very confident they could inflict damage on Usyk based on what went down. 

Wilder or Verhoeven rematch?

If the world can sense Usyk is not the same fighter, then the fighter, an astute man when it comes to the sport he has mastered time and time again, will also know, and his advisor, Sergey Lapin, has also recently hinted that retirement isn’t far away for his man. 

Whatever Usyk does next, it won’t be the governing bodies deciding, and although Kabayel and Itauma would be ideal options, a farewell outing with less risk looks the likelier option. 

Some may say that is soft and that Usyk should face the biggest obstacles available, but after a run in the sport that may never be replicated, even the most ardent Usyk critic, if such a thing exists, would forgive him for going out on his own terms. 

Will that be a rematch with Verhoeven? Maybe that American swansong against Deontay Wilder? Whatever the fight, no world titles will be on the line, meaning that a number of new heavyweight champions are about to take their position. With Usyk almost gone from the sport, filling his boots may be the most difficult task those new belt holders face. 

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