“WORDS CAN’T DESCRIBE WHAT THIS MOMENT MEANS TO ME… NOW IT’S UP TO USYK. HE HAS 30 DAYS TO ACCEPT. IF HE DOESN’T, I BECOME THE FULL WBC WORLD CHAMPION,” Kabayel posted on social media.
The German contender has earned his position. Wins over Zhilei Zhang, Frank Sanchez and Arslanbek Makhmudov transformed him from a fringe contender into one of the heavyweight division’s most dangerous fighters. His pressure style and commitment to body punching have led many fans to question whether Usyk will accept the fight.
The skepticism comes from recent history. Usyk surrendered the WBO heavyweight title in November 2025 after the organization ordered him to defend against mandatory challenger Fabio Wardley. Rather than move forward with the defense, Usyk vacated the belt and continued pursuing other opportunities.
That precedent has led some fans to wonder whether the WBC title could suffer the same fate. A fight against Kabayel carries obvious risk. The unbeaten contender brings constant pressure and has developed a reputation as one of the division’s best body punchers. At 39 years old, Usyk may have little interest in taking that kind of assignment if larger opportunities remain available. Yet the situation may not be that simple.
Turki Alalshikh publicly revealed last month that plans are being explored for a major Usyk event in Istanbul in 2027. The announcement immediately sparked speculation among fans because Kabayel, despite fighting out of Germany, has Turkish roots.
At the time, many viewed the comments as an early indication that a future Usyk-Kabayel fight could already be under consideration.
There is still a significant amount of time between now and any potential Istanbul event. Usyk is unlikely to remain inactive for the rest of 2026, waiting for a fight next year. A third bout with Tyson Fury remains a possibility, while other opportunities could emerge.
Still, the WBC’s order has placed Kabayel directly in the middle of those discussions. If this is merely a mandatory defense, fans have reason to question whether Usyk will take the risk. If substantial Riyadh Season backing is attached to the fight, the calculation becomes very different.
The next 30 days should reveal whether Kabayel is simply the WBC’s mandatory challenger or part of a larger plan already being developed behind the scenes.
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