The Usyk vs. Verhoeven II fight is becoming one of the most talked-about rematches in boxing after the controversial fight at the Pyramids of Giza. But before promoters start striking while the iron is sizzling, the heavyweight title picture needs to be addressed.

The second fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven is no longer fiction. The discussion now turned to what this would mean for the heavyweight titles.

Verhoeven exceeded expectations in Egypt, pushed Usyk harder than many thought possible and, as the official scorecards later showed, fought tough in the fight before a controversial stoppage in the eleventh round.

The Dutchman is expected to be given a place in the WBC heavyweight rankings after Mauricio Sulaiman confirmed he deserved it.

But the bigger question is what happens to the stripes.

Heavyweight title standings

As the holder of the WBC, WBA and IBF heavyweight championships, Usyk is subject to agreed mandatory rotation among sanctioning bodies.

First in line is the WBC, followed by the WBA and finally the IBF, which successfully took advantage of its turn when Daniel Dubois fought for the undisputed title.

This sequence is vital because Usyk has repeatedly said he only has two fights left before he retires.

At 39 years elderly, it’s tough to imagine the Ukrainian spending the final chapter of his career working on every must-see opponent that comes his way.

This reality creates several possible paths of development.

Kabayel remains the favorite

The most likely next fight remains the patient Agit Kabayel.

Members of the WBC Ranking Committee have already confirmed that Kabayel is the mandatory challenger to Usyk, while Mauricio Sulaiman recently reiterated that the Usyk vs Kabayel fight must take place this year.

Usyk has long talked about his desire to return to fight in Kiev, which is impossible due to the ongoing war.

Germany offers the closest alternative.

With more than 1.5 million Ukrainians currently living in Germany after being displaced by the conflict, a stadium fight would be the closest Usyk has come to fighting in front of his own people since becoming heavyweight champion.

For this reason alone, defending Kabayel seems like the most logical next step.

Verhoeven’s rematch after Kabayel?

If Usyk defeats Kabayel, the door will immediately open for a rematch with Verhoeven.

At this point, Rico would already be ranked in the WBC and would have a stronger claim than before the first fight. The kickboxer would simply have to remain undefeated in any interim fight.

The WBC title could still be attached to the fight, and The Ring championship would likely be available as well.

Recent decisions have shown that The Ring is willing to take a adaptable approach to championship criteria, making winning the belt easier than in previous eras.

This scenario currently looks like the most realistic plan of action.

Usyk completes his mandatory defense, a welcome homecoming atmosphere prevails in Germany, and then retires against Verhoeven in one of the greatest rematches boxing has ever seen.

What if they keep fighting?

The direct route of the rematch is where things get complicated.

If Usyk bypasses Kabayel and goes straight into a second fight with Verhoeven, his unified reign will likely come to an end before the opening bell.

The WBC will almost certainly have to move forward with Kabayel under its mandatory rules, and the WBA and IBF will also face pressure to enforce the agreed championship order.

A rematch could still happen, but other titles simply may not come.

In such a scenario, a second fight between Usyk and Verhoeven could occur with only The Ring championship at stake, while the major sanctioning bodies would crown or elevate other title holders.

The only way all lanes stay engaged

There is one final possibility.

Usyk could defeat Kabayel and then assure the WBA and IBF that retirement is not imminent, preserving the possibility of carrying all three world titles into a rematch with Verhoeven.

This is the cleanest route from a championship perspective, but whether it is realistic for a player approaching 40 who has openly talked about retiring is a completely different matter.

Whatever happens next, one thing has become clear since May 23.

The real discussion isn’t whether Usyk and Verhoeven will meet again. That’s how many lanes will survive when this happens.

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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.