A new wave of intrigue has erupted in the world of professional boxing. The World Boxing Council (WBC) has officially determined the next opponent for reigning world champion Oleksandr Usyk. According to the decision of the organization's president, Mauricio Sulaiman, the Ukrainian boxer is obligated to conduct a mandatory title defense against Agit Kabayel.
This move marks the end of the period of "administrational leniency" for Usyk. Previously, the organization allowed the champion to conduct a voluntary defense against Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven. That bout took place in Egypt, where Alexander secured a victory by technical knockout in the eleventh round. However, according to regulations, a mandatory defense inevitably follows a voluntary one.
Ultimatum from the WBC President
Mauricio Sulaiman did not resort to ambiguous phrasing in his comment to Pro Box TV. He clearly outlined the agenda: the fight with Kabayel is already sanctioned and is a mandatory condition for retaining status.
"The WBC decision was very clear. One fight was a voluntary defense, and now the winner must fight against Kabayel," emphasized the council president.
The stakes in this matter are extremely high. Usyk has been given a strict condition: step into the ring against the German to maintain his status as the unified heavyweight king. In the event of the Ukrainian's refusal to fight, he risks losing his full WBC belt. This would be a serious loss, considering that Usyk currently holds three major titles (WBA, IBF, WBC) and The Ring magazine belt.
Challenge from Agit Kabayel
Usyk's opponent is the dangerous and undefeated German, Agit Kabayel. He won the WBC interim title in a bout against Chinese fighter Zhang Zhilei and has since persistently demanded his shot at the title fight. The German's reaction to Usyk's victory over Verhoeven was immediate: immediately after the fight ended, Kabayel climbed into the ring and personally issued a loud challenge to the Ukrainian.
Currently, Kabayel is actively lobbying for this fight, claiming that their bout could "sell out an entire stadium." The German boxer has already identified two top arenas ready to host this historic mega-fight.
Champion's Reaction and Fight Prospects
Oleksandr Usyk did not shy away from the challenge. Despite rumors of a possible rematch with Rico Verhoeven, the champion confirmed his full readiness to begin large-scale negotiations with Kabayel. Usyk personally urged the head of the Saudi Arabian General Entertainment Authority, Turki Al-Sheikh, to take control of organizing this bout.
Thus, the scenario of a rematch against the Dutchman is taking a back seat, giving way to a confrontation with the mandatory challenger. If negotiations are successful, fans will see one of the most anticipated fights of the year, where not only prestige but also the retention of the main WBC title by Oleksandr Usyk is at stake.