After reports stated the green and gold belt would be at stake in Egypt, Sulaiman told Sports Illustrated that there has been no formal discussion about sanctioning the fight as a title defense.
“The WBC fully supports this cross-over fight,” Sulaiman said.
“We will create an unbelievable belt featuring the elements of the Pyramids of Egypt.
“At this moment, there has not been a discussion of a request to be a title defense and just a special event involving the WBC heavyweight champion.”
In plain terms, the WBC is prepared to support the event and design a new belt. What remains unclear is whether its actual heavyweight title will be defended.
Agit Kabayel holds the WBC interim heavyweight belt. That is supposed to mean he is next, not that he gets a nice photo and a polite round of applause. The interim title exists to lock in the mandatory spot. Kabayel earned it the old-fashioned way, by beating ranked heavyweights under WBC sanction. He did not pick it up for showing up at a press conference or switching sports for the evening.
If the Usyk bout is treated as a special event, the WBC sidesteps the question of why an unranked opponent is placed ahead of its interim champion. If it is approved as a defense, then Kabayel’s mandatory status should activate immediately after.
Usyk, 22-0, addressed Verhoeven’s credentials.
“I truly respect people who reach the very top in their sport. Rico is one of them, a powerful athlete and a great champion. But this is boxing , a different game, with its own rules and its own kings.”
That is how it is supposed to work. Sanctioning bodies write rules, rankings establish order, and interim titles identify the next man in line. At least that is the theory printed on the paperwork.
Kabayel has handled his end. He is unbeaten. He owns the interim belt. Under WBC guidelines, that places him in the mandatory position.
The WBC now has to decide whether its heavyweight title follows its own ranking structure or whether event considerations take priority. If interim status means anything, Kabayel is next.
If the WBC does not enforce Kabayel’s mandatory position, the interim belt becomes meaningless and the organization loses what credibility it claims to protect, if it had much left to begin with. You cannot talk about structure, collect sanctioning fees, and then ignore your own rankings when a crossover event looks more profitable.
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