WBC sets ultimatum for Usyk: Accept fight or lose the title
Oleksandr Usyk (photo: Getty Images)
WBC ultimatum: lose the belt or fight the German
WBC president Mauricio Sulaimán made it clear that there will be no more concessions for the Ukrainian champion.
After the organization allowed Usyk to take a voluntary defense against Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven (whom Oleksandr defeated by technical knockout in the 11th round in Egypt), it is now time for mandatory obligations.
“The WBC decision was very clear. One fight was a voluntary defense, and now the winner must face Kabayel. This fight has already been sanctioned, and it is a mandatory defense for Usyk,” Sulaimán emphasized.
A strict condition has been set for the Ukrainian champion: he must step into the ring against Kabayel to maintain his status as the unified king of the heavyweight division.
If he refuses, Usyk will be stripped of the full WBC belt — one of the three major titles he currently holds (alongside WBA, IBF, and The Ring).
Bold challenge in the ring and Usyk’s reaction
Agit Kabayel won the WBC interim title against Zhang Zhilei and has since been demanding his shot.
Immediately after Usyk’s fight with Verhoeven ended, the German boxer stepped into the ring without hesitation and personally issued a loud challenge to the Ukrainian.
Usyk himself has already confirmed full readiness to begin major negotiations.
Despite talks of a possible rematch with Verhoeven, the Crimean accepted the German’s challenge and called on Turki Alalshikh, head of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, to begin organizing this mega-fight.
Kabayel has already claimed they could sell out an entire stadium and has named two top arenas for hosting the historic bout.
