Title holder Usyk backs away from his clear plans and names Agit Kabayel as an option. However, the German remains just one of several options.
Triple champion Alexander Usyk is giving German boxer Agit Kabayel faint hopes of a world championship fight. The Ukrainian heavyweight world champion explained in an interview that a duel with the German challenger might be an option, even instead of a third fight with former champion Tyson Fury.
“Maybe I’ll fight Kabayel – maybe I won’t fight Tyson Fury a third time and instead take on Kabayel,” Usyk told the Daily Mail. At the same time, the 39-year-old emphasized that his plans were not binding: “I’m just saying my plan, but it’s not set in stone.” He rejected calls for a mandatory fight against Kabayel. “I understand that Agit’s fans are saying: You have to fight him. But I don’t have to fight him.”
Kabayel has right to mandatory fight against Usyk
Usyk, who will defend his WBC title against world kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven in May, had not previously included Kabayel in his future plans. Instead, he mentioned a possible duel with the winner of the WBO title fight between Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois as well as another clash with Fury.
This leaves the situation still open for Kabayel. As WBC interim world champion, the 33-year-old has the right to a mandatory fight against Usyk, which the association has ordered for the fall. The unbeaten German (27 wins) is nevertheless preparing without a fixed opponent and is aiming for a world championship fight in Germany in September. If Usyk does not compete, Kabayel could become the regular world champion without a fight – and become the first German heavyweight world champion since icon Max Schmeling in the early 1930s.
Usyk seems to have a lot of respect. “All I can say is: He is a great boxer and very intelligent,” said the Ukrainian.