Usyk's future: a mandatory title defense against Cabayel or a blockbuster fight in Istanbul
After successfully defending his WBC world title in the spectacular “Glory in Giza” bout in May against kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven, the boxing community is actively discussing the details of Oleksandr Usyk’s next bout.
The main and most likely contender for a fight against the Ukrainian champion is German super heavyweight Agit Kabayel. The World Boxing Council (WBC) has already officially sanctioned this bout as a mandatory title defense, as Kabayel holds the organization’s interim championship title.
An official deadline has been set for the boxers’ camps to reach a final agreement, after which an open bidding process among promoters may be announced. The German boxer himself insists on holding the bout at one of Germany’s major soccer stadiums, while Saudi Arabia is considering alternative venues for large-scale events.
Alongside the organizations’ official requirements, other high-profile scenarios for the Ukrainian boxer’s retirement are also being considered. Turki Al-Sheikh, head of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, has an ambitious plan to organize a spectacular boxing event near the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, though this project is already slated for early 2027. Among the less likely but still discussed options are a potential rematch with Rico Verhoeven, which Dutch promoters are pushing for, a third bout against Daniel Dubois to unify all the belts once again, or the final installment of the trilogy with Tyson Fury.
Source: Channel 24.
The World Boxing Council (WBC) has set a deadline for reaching an agreement on the fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Agit Kabayel. The bout is set to determine the world champion.
During his visit to the U.S., Oleksandr Usyk met with UFC President Dana White and WWE Executive Vice President Nick Khan, sharing photos and his impressions on social media. The Ukrainian champion described the meeting as pleasant and emphasized his respect for the people who shape the modern world of combat sports.
