WBC Draws Its Line
“After his next fight, Oleksandr Usyk MUST defend his WBC heavyweight title against (interim champion) Agit Kabayel, or face being stripped from the belt. He must fight the interim champion next,” Sulaiman told Chris Mannix’s YouTube channel.
On paper, it creates a fork in the road. In practice, Usyk has already shown how he handles these situations.
After stopping Daniel Dubois in five rounds on July 19, 2025 to become undisputed heavyweight champion, Usyk later vacated the WBO belt when ordered to defend against interim champion Fabio Wardley. He chose autonomy. The division adjusted.
Usyk now holds the WBA, WBC, and IBF titles. The WBC is allowing one voluntary defence because Kabayel had a January fight scheduled. After that, the order becomes mandatory. The assumption is that the belt creates pressure. Usyk’s recent history suggests otherwise.
Kabayel is unbeaten at 27-0 and earned his position through activity. He has added stoppages to secure his interim spot and has stayed visible in a division full of viable contenders. Compact and physically strong, he works the body and keeps edging forward. That style produces difficult rounds, even for elite movers.
At 39, that kind of opponent carries real sporting risk. It does not carry the same commercial pull as Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, or a rising name such as Moses Itauma. Those fights bring site fees, pay-per-view attention, and global markets. They justify the scale.
A Kabayel defence satisfies the requirement. It does not significantly change the heavyweight conversation. For a champion who has already completed the undisputed run, that distinction matters.
The undisputed chase required compliance. Every belt had to be defended and every order respected. That phase of his career demanded it.
When the WBO later instructed him to face Wardley, Usyk walked away instead. The market remained steady. His standing did not change. That told its own story.
Where the Leverage Sits
Elite heavyweights now operate from financial security and an established legacy. The belt no longer defines their value in the same way. If Kabayel becomes the next fight, it will be because Usyk wants it. If a larger opportunity emerges, recent history suggests the belt will be the flexible piece again.
The WBC has issued its instruction. Whether it carries real force depends on the champion. Usyk has already shown he is willing to decide for himself.
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