Oleksandr Usyk agrees next fight after avoiding shock Rico Verhoeven defeat
Oleksandr Usyk could be in action again this year following a below-par display against Rico Verhoeven.
Oleksandr Usyk has endorsed a potential bout with Agit Kabayel after avoiding a shock defeat to Rico Verhoeven in Egypt. The Ukrainian survived a scare as he overcame the kickboxing veteran, who had just one professional fight on his record 12 years ago, with some complaints emerging that the referee stepped in too soon in the controversial stoppage.
The unified world heavyweight champion was below par in the Egyptian capital and was soon face-to-face with Kabayel, pushing for a chance in the ring. Usyk has scalps over Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua on his record, and at 39, he continues to dominate the division. But German Kabayel poses a fresh challenge as the mandatory challenger for his WBC title, with the 27-year-old boasting an unbeaten record with 19 knockouts. The WBC have ordered the fight to be next and failure to follow through, would see Usyk stripped of his belt.
EXPRESS SPORT ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
After the fight, Kabayel got in the ring and said: "First of all, congratulations to Oleksandr. I have waited so long for this fight.
“I am ready and I think Germany is ready for the fight. Let's do it in a German stadium.
“I think all the fans want it. Let's do it.” The 27-year-old has been the mandatory challenger since February 2025 after his knockout win over Zhilei Zhang in Riyadh.
The showdown between the heavyweight division's top two is an opportunity for Usyk to delay the changing of the guard following Kabayel's destructive path, while 21-year-old Moses Itauma is threatening a challenge.
The 27-year-old’s manager, Spencer Brown, outlined the framework for the fight with the potential for Usyk to return to the ring before the end of the calendar year.
He said: “It's going to be ordered, they are going to fight.
“I am speechless at Rico; it was an unbelievable performance, but there is a new challenger now. He is in line now; there can only be one fight. They have both agreed to it, let's get it on.
“They are both ready. Whenever they want, I am hoping in September or October in Germany.”
DAZN Ultimate includes more than 185 fight nights per year such plus at least 12 PPVs including Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois and Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven at no extra cost.
