WBC heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has announced for the first time that he is not averse to a fight against interim champion Agit Kabayel.
Heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk is fueling hopes of a world title fight against Agit Kabayel for the first time. Contrary to his last statements that he wanted to fight his last three fights against Rico Verhoeven (on May 23), the winner of Dubois vs. Wardley (on May 9) and a third time against Tyson Fury, the WBC world champion has now surprisingly included his mandatory challenger in his considerations. “Maybe I’ll fight Kabayel – maybe I won’t meet Tyson Fury a third time and fight Kabayel instead,” said Usyk in an interview with the “Daily Mail”.
“I understand the Agit fans”
Agit Kabayel had previously reacted to Usyk’s latest statements with disappointment and anger. “I’ve always respected him a lot for his sporting performance and said: ‘Hey, he’s not afraid of a challenge and is a man of his word’,” Kabayel told sport.de. “But Usyk is only interested in the money, everything else is of no interest to him. I’ve noticed that once again.” The 33-year-old German went on to criticize: “How can he not name the number one in the rankings, his mandatory challenger? It’s just sad that he’d rather fight Dubois or Fury a third time, even though he’s already beaten both of them twice.”
Is the Ukrainian now having a change of heart? “I’m just stating my plan, but it’s not set in stone,” Usyk told the British newspaper. “I understand that the Agit fans are saying: ‘You have to fight him, you have to fight him! But I don’t have to fight him,” he explained.
“He is a great fighter”
He had to “take care of my team and my children in my life”, Usyk continued. “As far as fighting is concerned, I just work hard, just like my opponents. Maybe it’s possible that I’ll fight Agit. All I can say is that he’s a great fighter and very smart.”
Will Agit Kabayel perhaps get his big stadium fight against the WBC world champion in Germany after all? It remains to be seen how the “Leberking’s” team will react to the Ukrainian’s “offer”.
Text: Frank Schwantes