The backlash has grown louder as neither Kabayel nor Sanchez currently fit the commercial profile of a Tyson Fury fight, a fight with Anthony Joshua or even a rematch with Rico Verhoeven, even though both are viewed as unsafe opponents.

Kabayel spent the last year clawing his way into the title game with wins over Frank Sanchez and Arslanbek Makhmudov, while Sanchez regained momentum with a knockout of Richard Torrez Jr. earlier this month.

Some fans, however, believe Team Usyk could now pivot towards bigger commercial events instead of risky mandatory fights.

This theory gained popularity after Usyk fought against Verhoeven’s arrest in Egypt. The fight generated mixed interest, with debate about a stoppage and immediate discussion about a rematch.

Some fans now believe that a second fight with Rico could prove to be the perfect bridge as Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua move closer to their anticipated showdown later this year.

If Fury defeats Joshua, a third fight with Usyk will immediately become up for sale again. If Joshua wins, the next Usyk-Joshua fight will also have high commercial value.

Meanwhile, Kabayel remains in a complex situation. Although respected by die-hard boxing fans, the undefeated German challenger currently does not have the mainstream international profile that Fury, Joshua and even Verhoeven did after the event in Egypt.

This led some fans to wonder if Lapin’s “highlight” comment was less about ambition and more about avoiding high-risk heavyweight rivals who carry a threat without being tied to a blockbuster business.

Many boxing fans believe that Oleksandr Usyk was just a round away from one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight history against Rico Verhoeven, and now Queensberry promoter Frank Warren has expressed his views on the fight.

With only one professional boxing fight under his belt, most people gave Verhoeven minimal chances ahead of his unconventional clash with Usyk at the Pyramids of Giza.

The Dutchman quickly proved that he should be taken seriously as his style caused problems for Usyk, who had trouble winning rounds and was constantly off the pace.

Before round 11, it was revealed that two judges had the fight level while one had Verhoeven ahead 96-94. In interview for iFL TVWarren described the result as “horrible”, believing that the underdog’s performance deserved a bigger advantage.

“I actually thought it was a really good fight, fun to watch and he won it. I had him four or five [rounds] up, I thought the scoring was terrible.

In this penultimate round, these scorecards became redundant as a judge Mark Lyson intervened after Verhoeven met Usyk’s uppercut and then applied pressure in a corner.

Continuing, Warren said a more experienced operator would take some extra time and look at the entire round.

“I think if he [Verhoeven] when he fell, he had a little more experience [he could have survived the round]. I noticed that his rubber cover had half fallen off and he put it back on without touching it, he sort of swallowed it back.

“Anyone with a bit of experience would spit it out and maybe gain a little more from it [of time]”

Verhoeven appealed the outcome of the fight, hoping to have the fight result changed to a “no contest” or force an immediate rematch, although the WBC confirmed that Usyk would next have to have mandatory challenger Shit Kabayel, promoted by Warren.

“Torrez will be as good as his beard will last,” Bradley said on his YouTube channel.

Bradley explained that Torrez is considering almost all other options as a heavyweight prospect, but cautioned that durability will become inevitable once fighters reach an elite opponent.

“You’ve got to have a heart and a chin. You need both,” Bradley said.

“And if you can’t make it here or take on a large challenge, especially at heavyweight, you’re a deserter.”

Bradley stopped tiny of completely dismissing Torrez, pointing out that Sanchez’s knockout shot was one the undefeated American never expected.

“I’m not saying Torrez is defective, but that was the first right hand you got hit with,” Bradley said. “Some guys get knocked down by shots they can’t see.”

The defeat also reminded fans of Torrez’s first-round knockout loss to the undefeated Uzbek heavyweight Bakhodir Yalolov in the amateurs in September 2019 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. The sequence was similar to Sanchez’s defeat, with Torrez lunging forward aggressively before being caught by the taller southpaw and landing flat on his back.

Bradley also criticized Torrez’s aggressive approach to a perilous boxer like Sanchez, saying the fight developed exactly as the Cuban heavyweight veteran wanted it to.

“It’s perilous to walk toward a hitter,” Bradley said. “You have to give yourself time.”

The Hall of Fame analyst added that Sanchez immediately recognized Torrez’s driving habits and, after watching the same holes on film, timed his looping right hand perfectly.

“Nothing has changed,” Bradley said. – Same damn mistake.

Despite the loss, Bradley continued to praise Torrez for his work ethic and mentality, saying the heavyweight contender remains one of the better teenage figures in the division.

“He controls every other field,” Bradley said. “He works challenging. He’s very disciplined. He’s a good guy. He’s a student of the game.”

Bradley said Torrez’s future may now depend on how he reacts when he starts landing pristine heavyweight punches more often against an experienced opponent.