“This was unbelievable,” Kabayel said to Ring Magazine, talking about his thoughts on being elevated to WBC heavyweight champion outside of the ring. “I was on the airplane and Spencer wrote me, ‘Please call me back.’ When I called him, he said, ‘Congratulations Agit, you are the heavyweight world champion right now.’ This was crazy. This was unbelievable.”
Although thrilled to fulfill a lifelong dream, Kabayel admitted he would have preferred to win the belt inside the ring rather than inherit it through Usyk’s retirement plans. He now turns his attention to making his first title defense.
The unbeaten heavyweight also addressed the collapse of a potential showdown with Usyk. Kabayel said discussions had taken place for a fight in Germany before the Ukrainian announced he would relinquish his belts.
“We talked with the team from Usyk for the potential fight in Germany, but we have not a deal,” Kabayel said. “For me, it was better when I fight with Usyk. He’s the greatest in my division right now. But it is what it is. I respect it a lot.”
Kabayel said he was surprised the fight never materialized after Usyk had publicly expressed interest following their faceoff in Egypt. However, he rejected the idea that the unified champion avoided him.
“I think he not duck,” Kabayel said. “I think for him it was only the last fight and he will finish his career. He’s 39 years old. He beat all the biggest names in this era.”
Now holding the WBC belt, Kabayel made it clear he has no intention of choosing easy defenses. He welcomed potential bouts with former champion Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, the winner of Daniel Dubois vs. Fabio Wardley, or rising contender Moses Itauma.
“For me it’s no problem,” Kabayel said. “I fight everyone now. When the No. 1 challenger is ready, I fight everyone.”
Usyk’s decision to vacate has reshaped the heavyweight landscape, and Kabayel now enters the next phase of his career as a full world champion with several major fights potentially on the horizon.
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