Mauricio Sulaiman Blindsided: WBC Chief Thought Usyk’s Exit Video Was AI

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Usyk announced Friday that he was relinquishing the WBC heavyweight championship, bringing an end to his reign with the organization. The news appeared to catch Sulaiman completely by surprise, with the WBC president revealing he first learned of the decision through a video posted online.

“What a disappointment is for me to learn from a social media video that our heavyweight champion is vacating his WBC title. This is the current life we live in, I would even think it is AI. I personally wish Usyk great success in his life inside and outside the ring,” Sulaiman wrote on social media,” said Sulaiman on X, reacting to the news of Usyk vacating his WBC title.

The reaction underscored just how unexpected the announcement was for the WBC. Rather than receiving advance notice from one of boxing’s biggest stars, Sulaiman said he initially questioned whether the video itself was even real before realizing Usyk had indeed decided to surrender the title.

Losing Usyk as its heavyweight champion is a significant blow for the WBC. The unbeaten Ukrainian has been one of the sport’s premier attractions, becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion and cementing his legacy as one of the greatest fighters of his era before choosing to relinquish the belt.

While disappointed by how he learned of the news, Sulaiman ended his message on a respectful note, wishing Usyk success both inside and outside the ring as the WBC begins the process of crowning a new heavyweight champion.