Interim champions are not usually waved into the ring during a live post-fight interview unless there is serious interest behind the matchup. Riyadh Season could have spent the entire segment building around the Rico controversy and possible rematch. Instead, they placed Kabayel directly into the picture while Usyk was still standing in the ring.
The timing also matched comments Turki Alalshikh made last Thursday before the fight card in Egypt. Turki revealed that he already has plans for a future Usyk event in Turkey next year, which immediately fueled speculation about Kabayel because of his Turkish roots and his WBC mandatory position.
If the fight happens, Usyk could be dealing with something completely different from the heavyweights he has faced during his title run. Kabayel does not fight like Rico Verhoeven, Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, or Daniel Dubois.
He is a pressure fighter who keeps coming forward, attacks the body constantly, and forces opponents into uncomfortable exchanges over long stretches. Standing next to Usyk inside the ring after the fight, Kabayel also looked physically enormous. His upper body size immediately stood out during the face-off. The body punching could become the biggest issue.
That has looked like one of the few vulnerable areas in Usyk’s heavyweight game, and Kabayel may be the best body puncher in the division right now. He does not touch the body occasionally to set up combinations. He stays on it round after round and slowly wears opponents down physically. Frank Sanchez learned that the hard way earlier this year.
Sanchez landed clean shots on Kabayel and appeared to hurt him at times, but Kabayel kept marching forward, kept attacking downstairs, and eventually stopped him. Most heavyweights back up once they absorb punishment from Sanchez. Kabayel kept applying pressure until the fight changed. That style may create a much different experience for Usyk than the Rico fight.
Verhoeven had success with strength, awkward timing, and physicality, but Usyk eventually found openings upstairs and unloaded combinations late in the 11th round. Rico was visibly hurt during the final sequence before the stoppage and looked close to collapsing afterward. Kabayel may not break down the same way.
If Usyk gets dragged into a hard inside fight against him, there may be less opportunity to rely on a late stoppage. Kabayel has already shown he can absorb punishment, continue pressing forward, and turn fights into wars.
Saturday night may have accidentally created intrigue around a Kabayel fight that did not fully exist before the face-off.
Rico earned respect with his performance, but the moment Riyadh Season brought Kabayel into the ring beside Usyk, it started looking like the people behind the event may already have another direction in mind.
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