Agit Kabayel has been elevated to WBC world champion after former champion Oleksandr Usyk decided not to proceed with a mandatory defence.
Usyk won the WBC belt in May 2024 by beating Tyson Fury, adding it to the IBF, WBA and WBO he had won from Anthony Joshua to become the first undisputed heavyweight world champion since Lennox Lewis.
The Ukrainian defended his undisputed status in rematchs with Fury and Daniel Dubois before dropping the WBO belt and retaining the rest against Rico Verhoeven this year.
Kabayel – who picked up the WBC interim title last year by stopping Zhilei Zhang – was then ordered to fight Usyk, but the former unified champion instead opted to vacate all remaining belts in pursuit of one final fight, reportedly against either Deontay Wilder or Jon Jones.
Speaking to the Ring Magazine, the elevated Kabayel was asked if he believes Usyk ‘ducked’ him – an accusation levelled at the Ukrainian by some fans.
“No, I don’t think he ducked. This is [going to be] his last fight and he will finish his career. You heard maybe Jon Jones or Deontay … I cannot change things. I gave everything – I went to Egypt, I went in the ring, I called him out, said let’s give the fans a fight. After I went back to Germany and made three videos to promote the fight … It is what it is, I cannot change it and I must respect it.”
Kabayel will look to make the first defence of his new title later this year, with another sold-out show in Germany targeted following his win over Damian Knyba back in January.
He has said he is open to putting the green and gold strap on the line against the likes of Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Moses Itauma.
