OREANDA-NEWS. The World Boxing Organization (WBO) has deprived Alexander Usik of the title of world champion in the first heavyweight, the official WBO website reports. Earlier, the Ukrainian boxer, who owned the belt since September 2016, announced the transition to the heavyweight category.

“Krzysztof Glowacki, who previously owned the interim champion belt, has become the new WBO World Champion. The barbell goes into heavy weight, ”said the organization’s president, Francisco Valkarsel. Glovatski will defend his belt on June 15 in Riga. As part of the World Boxing Super Series semifinal, he will enter the ring in a fight against Mayris Briedis from Latvia. The Cuban Junior Dorticos and Andrew Tabiti from the USA will meet in the other semi-final on the same day.

Usyk united the championship belts on IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO versions in July 2018. Then, in the finals of the World Boxing Super Series in the ring of the Olimpiysky sports complex in Moscow, by a unanimous decision of the judges, Russian Murat Gassiyev won. The last time Usyk entered the ring in November 2018, knocking out in the title battle of the British Tony Belleu. In March 2019, the WBA obliged the Ukrainian boxer to conduct mandatory belt protection in a duel with former world champion Russian Denis Lebedev. Usik refused to fight, announcing the transition to heavyweight. On the eve of the WBC announced the vacant title in the first heavy weight, assigning the status of Ukrainian "champion on vacation".

The first heavyweight bout Usik planned to hold May 25 against Cameroonian Carlos Takama. The fight didn't take place due to the fact that the Ukrainian boxer injured his biceps.