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Orgo-Life the new way to the future Advertising by AdpathwayThree-belt heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk is still expected to face WBC interim champion Agit Kabayel next, despite the controversy surrounding his stoppage win over Rico Verhoeven last Saturday in Egypt.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman said that Kabayel remains next in line for Usyk after the dramatic ending at the Pyramids of Giza.
“Kabayel versus Usyk is next,” Sulaiman said to Boxingscene.
Kabayel (27-0, 19 KOs) entered the ring during the post-fight interviews after Usyk stopped Verhoeven in the 11th round. Saudi boxing financier Turki Alalshikh later said he wants to stage Usyk-Kabayel at a soccer stadium in Germany.
Kabayel moved into position for the title shot after stopping Frank Sanchez, Zhilei Zhang, and Damian Knyba in consecutive fights.
The ending to Usyk-Verhoeven has created calls for a rematch after referee Mark Lyson waved the fight off moments after the bell sounded in the 11th round.
“Live, at the heat of the moment, [the stoppage] seemed to be early,” Sulaiman said. “Rico was even winning the fight at some point.”
“After looking at the replays [and] speaking with [Lyson] and with a cooler state of mind, I’m certain it was a correct stoppage. However, I fully understand those who didn’t like it.”
Verhoeven, fighting in just his second professional boxing match, gave Usyk problems throughout the fight and was ahead on some scorecards before the stoppage.
Kabayel’s promoter, Frank Warren, has already called for the WBC to force Usyk into a mandatory defense or strip him if he goes in another direction.
Alalshikh says a Usyk-Verhoeven rematch could still happen later in Holland after Usyk faces Kabayel.
Michael Collins is a senior writer at Boxing247.com (East Side Boxing) and has covered world championship boxing since 2012. Respected for his measured reporting and technical insight, he delivers expert analysis on elite fighters, contenders, and the evolving global fight landscape.
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Boxing • Boxing News • Mauricio Sulaiman: “Kabayel Versus Usyk Is Next”
Last Updated on 2026/05/26 at 1:43 PM

















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