The boxing world is once again on edge. Following the sensational finale in Egypt, where Oleksandr Usyk defeated Rico Verhoeven by technical knockout in the 11th round, a true storm has erupted. Fans of the Dutchman and his team demanded an immediate rematch, pointing to controversial actions by the referee. However, the World Boxing Council (WBC) put an end to these discussions by announcing the Ukrainian's next opponent and rejecting any rumors of a rematch.

Official Verdict: Rematch Will Not Take Place

WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman left no room for maneuver. In an interview with BoxingScene, he stated that the organization does not intend to give in to emotions and is closing the topic of a rematch with Verhoeven. Instead, the WBC insists on holding a fight with the mandatory challenger—Agit Kabayel.

"The next fight is Agit Kabayel versus Oleksandr Usyk. We are not going to tolerate talk of a possible rematch. Usyk has held the belts long enough, and Kabayel has earned his moment in the spotlight. It is on holding this fight that the WBC will insist in the near future," emphasized Sulaiman.

Why Stopping the Fight Was the Right Decision

The main sticking point was referee Mike Lee's stoppage after the final bell of the 11th round. Many experts and fans believed that Verhoeven was winning on points and the fight should have gone to the judges' scorecards. However, Sulaiman, after reviewing video replays and analyzing the situation, confirmed the correctness of the decision.

"In a live broadcast, under the influence of emotions, it might indeed have seemed that the referee stopped the encounter prematurely. Nevertheless, after a detailed review, I am absolutely certain: the stoppage was fully justified and correct. I understand the disappointment of those who did not like this decision, but the result stands," noted the head of the organization.

Who is Agit Kabayel?

Usyk's new opponent is a 33-year-old German boxer of Kurdish origin, holder of the interim WBC world championship title. Kabayel is known for his incredible resilience and ability to knock out favorites.

  • Record: 27 fights, 27 wins, no losses. 19 wins by stoppage.
  • Style: Kabayel is not a typical giant knockout artist, but possesses phenomenal endurance, hard pressure, and high boxing intelligence.
  • Achievements: In Saudi Arabia, he sensationally knocked out undefeated Arslanbek Mahmutov, Cuban Frank Sanchez, and Chinese Zhang Zhilei.
  • Experience against Ukrainians: In 2019, Kabayel successfully defended his European title by defeating experienced Ukrainian heavyweight Andriy Rudenko on points.

According to Sulaiman, the WBC intends to settle all issues and hold this fight already in the autumn. For Usyk, this will be a serious test, as Kabayel has proven that he is capable of turning the tide of any fight.