Mauricio Sulaiman’s Statement on Oleksandr Usyk
Mauricio Sulaiman, the president of the World Boxing Council (WBC), has made it clear that after his upcoming voluntary title defense, unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk is obligated to face Agit Kabayel. This follows Usyk being granted a voluntary defense, a decision he hoped would see him battling former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder. However, that prospect faded after Wilder was matched up with Derek Chisora for a bout scheduled for April 4 at the O2 Arena in London.
Wilder’s Manager Comments
Wilder’s manager, Shelly Finkel, mentioned during a press conference that Usyk had reached out for a potential fight but that their plans shifted towards facing Chisora instead due to uncertainty surrounding Usyk’s availability. Usyk’s manager, Egis Klimas, acknowledged that Wilder represents one of the most significant competitors from the current era whom Usyk has yet to encounter, emphasizing the allure of such a match in the United States.
Kabayel’s Obligatory Challenge
Despite these discussions, Sulaiman has reiterated that Kabayel, the current WBC interim champion, must be Usyk’s next opponent following the voluntary bout. Kabayel earned his interim title with a victory over Zhilei Zhang last February and successfully defended it against Damian Knyba last month, maintaining his unbeaten record.
“Kabayel was not available for their last fight because he had commitments in January,” Sulaiman explained during an interview with boxing analyst Chris Mannix. “Usyk sought a voluntary title defense, which is a standard practice, and he was granted that opportunity. Following this, he needs to face the interim champion.”
Kabayel’s Position in Heavyweight Boxing
Kabayel, a 33-year-old fighter from Germany, has been a steady presence in the heavyweight scene, although he remains on its fringes. With the WBC interim title, he has been closely monitoring Usyk’s activities, who successfully defended his unified heavyweight titles against IBF champion Daniel Dubois, showcasing his skills with a stoppage victory.
Emerging Contenders and Future Fights
Adding complexity to Kabayel’s situation, the rise of Fabio Wardley as a possible contender for Usyk arose after Wardley won the interim WBO title in October against Joseph Parker. However, Usyk relinquished the regular WBO title shortly after, and now it seems that Wardley is poised to defend his title in May against Dubois.
Meanwhile, heavyweight boxing continues to heat up with Tyson Fury, who is set to make a comeback on April 11 against Arslanbek Makhmudov after several retirements. Fury still seeks a third fight with Usyk despite their last encounters resulting in Usyk defeating him twice in 2024, marking Fury’s first career losses.
