Oleksandr Usyk is at a sort of late-career crossroads, with an order to face Agit Kabayel or give up his WBC title, and the greater question of whether or not he much wants to fight again at all.
Sergey Lapin of Team Usyk says that it’s possible we’ve already seen Usyk fight for the final time, and that their side is weighing that option along with the WBC’s order for Usyk to fight Kabayel, among other options.
‘Nothing personal and nothing emotional’
Lapin is quick to point out that Oleksandr and their team respect Kabayel, the WBC’s interim
champion, but that the fight has to be commercially viable.
“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,” Lapin told Snabbare.
“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. 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.”
Kabayel (27-0, 19 KO) won the interim WBC belt in early 2025, knocking out Zhilei Zhang in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and defended it with a TKO win over Damian Knyba in front of a great crowd in Germany on January 10.
The WBC have said that the Usyk and Kabayel teams have until June 30 before the fight would go to purse bid.
Turki Alalshikh himself endorsed the idea that Kabayel ought to be next for Usyk, right after Usyk’s laborious win over kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven in May. Prior to that fight, Usyk had started suggesting more seriously the idea of facing Kabayel, too.
Usyk has sort of hinted that he was taking it easy against Verhoeven before the 11th round flurry that put Rico away, albeit in controversial fashion, and there have been a lot of pretty clear steps toward going to an immediate rematch, which everyone may see as a bigger fight, commercially, and frankly they may be right. Striking while the iron is hot on the Usyk vs Rico rematch might simply be more lucrative for Usyk than fighting Kabayel would be.
And though Alalshikh has a staggering amount of money at his disposal, it’s also not a bottomless well. If Usyk vs Rico 2 is that much more of a revenue generator than Usyk vs Kabayel would be, then there’s a good chance we see Usyk vacate the WBC belt and move on in these, the final stages of his career. He has proven plenty willing to vacate belts before. It’s why he’s never lost a fight but is two-time undisputed heavyweight champion, and why he isn’t undisputed champion right now.
Retirement on the table for Usyk
Lapin says a decision — which may or may not include any sort of announcement — will be made by the end of this week, and that Usyk, 39, not fighting again at all is absolutely on the table.
“Oleksandr has earned the right to carefully evaluate every option,” he said. “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.”
More likely than not, the 33-year-old Kabayel (27-0, 19 KO) would be elevated to full titleholder status by the WBC should Usyk retire or vacate to pursue a different fight. At that point, the name of Tyson Fury could enter the mix, but not for a third fight with Usyk.
Fury has been installed as the WBC’s No. 1 contender again, and he’s mentioned this idea of fighting Kabayel, who is a friend of his, for the title. Fury is, for the moment, tied up with the eventual fight with Anthony Joshua, but that might not be as set a situation as you’d hope, with various potential problems already floating around the event.
