Heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk says he will vacate all his belts but is not retiring.

The 39-year-old, who has an undefeated professional record of 25 wins, held the WBA 'super', WBC and IBF belts.

"This is a well-considered decision that I am confident will open new opportunities for me. This is not the end of the story. The continuation lies ahead," he said on X.

The Ukrainian said in the build-up to his last fight in May - a gritty win over Rico Verhoeven in Egypt - that he still wanted to fight on two more occasions before considering whether to hang up the gloves.

He added in a video message: "I want to vacate all the belts that I currently hold to make them available for the guys next in line to fight for them.

"Friends, I'm leaving the belts but not the sport because I still have my last dance."

More to follow.