Overview
- WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman confirmed Usyk was granted a voluntary defence and must face interim titleholder Agit Kabayel immediately afterward.
- Usyk has no bout confirmed as Deontay Wilder, a targeted voluntary opponent, is now booked to fight Derek Chisora on 4 April at London’s O2 Arena.
- Kabayel defended the WBC interim belt on 10 January by stopping Damian Knyba in Oberhausen, after winning the strap with a stoppage of Zhilei Zhang last year.
- Usyk retains the WBC, WBA and IBF titles but relinquished the WBO belt last year, with Fabio Wardley elevated to WBO champion and expected to face Daniel Dubois in May.
- Tyson Fury’s promoter says Fury wants a third fight with Usyk, with Fury slated to return on 11 April against Arslanbek Makhmudov.