Oleksandr Usyk must defend WBC heavyweight title against Agit Kabayel

The World Boxing Council (WBC) has ordered Ukrainian heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk to face German interim champion Agit Kabayel in a mandatory title defence. After Usyk’s voluntary defence against kick‑boxer Rico Verhoeven in May, the WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán said the winner of that bout must now fight Kabayel, giving the Ukrainian 30 days to accept the challenge or risk being stripped of the belt.

Kabayel, who holds the WBC interim heavyweight title and last defended it in January, expressed his excitement on Instagram, saying the fight would fulfil his lifelong dream of becoming a world champion. A victory would make him the first German heavyweight champion since Max Schmeling in 1932. The WBC warned that a refusal could lead to the title being vacated and awarded to Kabayel.