Overview
- The WBC said Oleksandr Usyk must face interim champion Agit Kabayel immediately after his sanctioned voluntary bout or risk losing the title.
- Mauricio Sulaiman explained the voluntary defence was granted because Kabayel had a January commitment, with the interim holder ordered next.
- Deontay Wilder, whom Usyk had pursued, is booked to fight Derek Chisora on 4 April at London’s O2 Arena, according to Wilder’s manager.
- Agit Kabayel, 27-0, retained the interim WBC belt on 10 January by stopping Damian Knyba in Oberhausen after winning it against Zhilei Zhang.
- Usyk has no fight scheduled since stopping Daniel Dubois on 19 July 2025 and no longer holds the WBO belt, which preceded Fabio Wardley’s elevation to champion.