A heavyweight showdown between Oleksandr Usyk and Agit Kabayel has been craved by fans for quite some time.
Usyk is currently weighing up his next move after his battle with kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven last month, which resulted in an 11th round TKO win for the Ukrainian after a lot closer contest than everybody imagined.
It means that there has been some clamour for a rematch between the pair, but many fans also want to see the long-awaited clash between Usyk and WBC mandatory challenger Kabayel.
There appears to be many hurdles still to overcome though if a Kabayel clash is set to take place, after Usyk’s team director Serge Lapin told Snabbare a serious offer must be made in order to convince Usyk to take the fight.
“Agit Kabayel is an excellent fighter, a worthy champion and a man we respect. There is nothing personal here. But fights of this magnitude are not made through social media or public pressure.
“Oleksandr has spent his entire career proving who he is. At this stage, the question is no longer what Usyk owes anyone. The question is what kind of event can be built?
“A serious offer, backed by serious people, the right commercial structure, broadcasters and site fee support, is how the biggest fights in the world are made.
“If the numbers and the opportunity make sense for everyone, then everything is possible. We are open to serious business, not noise.”
Lapin went on further to state how they are already speaking to other parties about potential fights if the Kabayel bout doesn’t materialise.
“Nothing personal and nothing emotional will prevent this fight from happening with Agit. But if there is no serious commercial structure behind the fight, then it becomes difficult to justify.
“If the right opportunity presents itself, the fight can happen. If not, there are other paths and other major opportunities available.
“Oleksandr has earned the right to carefully evaluate every option. We are speaking with different parties and considering all opportunities. A decision will be made by the end of this week, and everyone will know where we stand. Clarity is coming very soon.
“But one thing people should remember: when a fighter has achieved everything Oleksandr has achieved, every appearance becomes special. It is possible that fans have already seen him in the ring for the last time. Or maybe there is still one more chapter left. We will know very soon.”
If Usyk does indeed choose to face somebody other than Kabayel, he would be stripped of his WBC title as a result, with Kabayel then being elevated from interim status to full champion.
