The World Boxing Council (WBC) has officially confirmed that Oleksandr Usyk's next opponent will be mandatory challenger Agit Kabayel, TalkSport reports.
WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán said that the fight between Usyk and Kabayel should take place this year.
"Agit is the WBC Interim champion and the mandatory challenger to Oleksandr Usyk. He deserves it. The fight between Agit and Oleksandr should take place this year. We will order it," he said.
Istanbul or Germany are being considered as possible venues.
Oleksandr Usyk and Agit Kabayel. Photo: instagram/agitkabayel
Who is Agit Kabayel?
Agit Kabayel is a German heavyweight boxer of Kurdish origin, born in 1993 in Frankfurt. He is the current WBC Interim champion. In professional boxing, he has an impeccable record - 24 wins without a single defeat, 16 of which were by knockout.
Kabayel is known for his powerful body punches and aggressive fighting style. In 2024, he defeated former world champion Frank Sánchez, which put him in the position of a mandatory contender for the WBC title. The organization's president, Mauricio Sulaimán, separately noted his ability to work on the body and called him a fighter with a "huge heart".
Will there be a rematch between Usyk and Verhoeven?
Despite the forced expectation of a rematch, which has not yet been confirmed, Verhoeven will receive a WBC world ranking - in recognition of his spectacular performance against Usyk in Egypt. As previously reported, the Dutchman has filed an appeal against the controversial stoppage of the fight and is counting on a rematch in the future.
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