Boxing
Usyk U-Turn reduces the chances of Kabayel vs Itauma for the WBC title in Germany
Oleksandr Usyk may be the only person standing between Moses Itauma and the fastest route to a shot at the WBC heavyweight title.
The undefeated British prospect could find himself on the verge of being a championship contender this summer – but only if the division’s current ruler decides not to fight the mandatory challenger next.
Usyk has already planned for the end of his career, outlining a three-fight retirement plan that will start with Rico Verhoeven in Egypt and then potentially move on to the winner of Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois and a trilogy fight with Tyson Fury.
“Rico is first. Second, Wardley or Dubois wins. Third fight is my friend ‘Greedy Belly’ Tyson Fury,” Usyk said on his Ready to Fight app, discussing the schedule he hopes to follow.
This roadmap leaves little room for WBC interim champion Agit Kabayel, even though the German holds the mandatory position.
The WBC position remains unchanged
The sanctioning body reiterated its position in its March 2026 “Status by Division” update, confirming that Usyk is cleared to fight kickboxer Verhoeven on May 23 in Giza, Egypt.
“Champion Oleksander Usyk has been granted a voluntary defense. Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven on May 23 in Giza, Egypt. The winner must then fight mandatory interim champion Agit Kabayel.”
The clarification strengthened the WBC’s stance following criticism of the crossover fight. However, the champion’s situation remains fluid.
Kabayel interrogates Usyk
Kabayel has already expressed his frustration with the uncertainty surrounding his long-awaited title shot.
In an interview with RTL/ntv and sport.de, the German suggested that Usyk’s priorities may have moved away from heritage.
“I always had great respect for Usyk’s sporting achievements and said: ‘Hey, he’s not afraid of any challenges and he keeps his words.’ But the only thing he cares about is money; everything else is uninteresting to him. Now I noticed it again, extremely clearly,” Kabayel said.
The undefeated fighter strengthened his position with constant season stoppages for Riyad Frank Sanchez and Arslanbek Makhmudov, before adding knockout victories over Zhilei Zhang and Damian Knyba.
These performances definitely pushed Kabayel into the obligatory interim champion conversation, and he was irritated when he heard Usyk’s initial three-man wish list.
“How can he not name his number one ranked opponent, his mandatory challenger? It’s just melancholy that he would rather fight Dubois or Fury for the third time, even though he has already beaten them both twice,” Kabayel added.
“I have a large question mark in my head right now.”
This will take advantage of the opportunity
Usyk has since softened his previous stance on the WBC injunction.
“Maybe I will fight Kabayel – maybe I won’t fight Tyson Fury for the third time and I fight Kabayel instead,” the Ukrainian said when asked about the situation.
“I’m just giving you my plan, but it’s not written in stone. Maybe it’s possible that I’m fighting Agit. He’s a great fighter and very astute.”
If Usyk ultimately chooses a different path after the Verhoeven fight, Kabayel could suddenly be elevated to full champion status.
This scenario would immediately put Moses Itauma in the conversation as the No. 3 starting defenseman. Itauma recently demolished Jermain Franklin in Manchester to cement his place as the future of the division.
Itauma is heavily shunned, but Kabayel is known to be ready to tackle any major challenges in this weight class.
If Usyk hadn’t been blocking the path, promoter Frank Warren would almost certainly have turned his attention to Kabayel defending his interim title against an emerging British heavyweight, potentially this summer in Germany.
Such a fight would push Itauma straight into a WBC title fight much sooner than expected. With Kabayel expected to inherit the WBC belt if a fight with Usyk slips away, Warren may still consider the fight a possibility in the coming months.
Framed areas
Another name trying to get into the equation is Lawrence Okolie.
The former cruiserweight and bridge champion currently holds the WBC silver heavyweight title and has repeatedly called for a fight with Kabayel.
Earlier this year, Okolie posted a photo on social media of the German challenger sitting on a chicken and labeled him a “self-proclaimed boogeyman.”
Okolie will face Tony Yoka in Paris on April 25 in a scheduled defense of his silver title, but he still positions himself as a potential opponent should Kabayel’s situation change after the Egyptian fight.
For now, the championship order is clear. Kabayel is the mandatory challenger.
However, if Usyk decides not to pursue this path after the Verhoeven fight, the obstacle will disappear and Moses Itauma, aka Okolie, could suddenly find himself one fight away from the WBC heavyweight title.
About the author
Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.
Nelson didn’t hesitate when asked about his comments. He said Hamed was “delusional” and said the criticism only confirmed how far their relationship had fallen apart.
“I thought this kid was delusional,” Nelson told Sport Boxing. “After Giant I thought this kid hadn’t changed, and when I saw the show I thought you’ve definitely gotten worse.”
Nelson said he recently ignored two messages from Hamed on WhatsApp and is not interested in renewing the friendship.
“I turned him off. I don’t associate with him,” Nelson said. “If you look like an idiot, you feed him.”
The former cruiserweight champion made it clear that while he still respects Hamed’s achievements in the ring, he no longer respects him as a person.
“Do I admire what he’s accomplished? A lot,” Nelson said. “But as a person, I lost complete and utter respect for him.”
Much of Nelson’s anger appears to have to do with Hamed’s criticism of overdue coach Brendan Ingle, to whom both players attribute their careers. Nelson said he couldn’t accept the way Hamed spoke about a man he believed gave everything to the gym.
The public feud has escalated into one of the ugliest old-fashioned feuds in British boxing, with two former world champions now trading personal shots instead of memories.
It’s challenging to watch because these two are icons of the golden age of English in Sheffield. When you see former stablemates exchanging shots this overdue in life, you usually get the impression that there’s a lot of unhealed history behind them.
Naz’s “snake” comment clearly hit a nerve, but Nelson’s reaction suggests his real problem is his perceived lack of respect for Brendan Ingle. For Nelson, Brendan was the man who kept him afloat when he was struggling. The sight of Naz attacking that legacy seems to be a deal-breaker.
Nelson willingly gives Naz flowers for what he did in the ring, but closes the door on him himself. It’s a shame to see them at odds, especially since they were once the face of the same team, but Nelson seems to have found a lot of peace by simply pressing “block” and moving on.
Floyd Mayweather confirmed who he will fight before his rematch with Manny Pacquiao
Johnny Nelson says Naseem Hamed ‘deteriorated’ after brawl
Floyd Mayweather confirms next fight – Tyson dropped out due to Pacquiao’s plans
-
Opinions & Features1 year agoPacquiao vs marquez competition: History of violence
-
MMA1 year agoDmitry Menshikov statement in the February fight
-
Results1 year agoStephen Fulton Jr. becomes world champion in two weight by means of a decision
-
Results1 year agoKeyshawn Davis Ko’s Berinchyk, when Xander Zayas moves to 21-0
-
Video1 year agoFrank Warren on Derek Chisora vs Otto Wallin – ‘I THOUGHT OTTO WOULD GIVE DEREK PROBLEMS!’
-
Analysis1 year agoRobert Garcia discusses the debate on the greatest Mexican warrior in history
-
Video1 year ago‘DEREK CHISORA RETIRE TONIGHT!’ – Anthony Yarde PLEADS for retirement after WALLIN
-
Results1 year agoLive: Catterall vs Barboza results and results card