Oleksandr Usyk’s likely next opponent appears to have been confirmed after his controversial win over Rico Verhoeven.
The unified world heavyweight champion survived a major scare at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt on Saturday night after struggling badly against a kickboxing legend with just one professional boxing fight to his name, which came back in 2014.
Usyk was well below his usual level of performance as he was largely outworked by the impressive Verhoeven, who looked to be seriously threatening to successfully pull off what would surely have gone down as one of the biggest shocks in the history of not just boxing, but all of sport.
However, Usyk crucially rallied late in the 11th round and floored Verhoeven with an uppercut, before then unleashing another sustained barrage of heavy punches that led to referee Mark Lyson stepping in to wave off the fight with a stoppage that was officially timed at two minutes and 59 seconds.
Verhoeven was ahead on one judge’s scorecard after 10 rounds, while the other two judges had the fight level going into an 11th that, had Verhoeven been allowed to continue, would have been scored 10-8 for Usyk - putting him up on two of those cards and level on the other.
The Dutchman expressed frustration at not being allowed to “go out on his shield” or make it into the final round due to a stoppage that he felt was premature, quickly signalling his desire for a rematch.
However, it remains to be seen if that will take place despite Verhoeven’s stellar performance, with another more established heavyweight contender now claiming to be at the front of the queue.
Agit Kabayel got into the ring after Usyk’s contentious win in Egypt, stating his case for a world title showdown to be held in his native Germany later this year.
Kabayel, a former two-time European champion who is unbeaten at 27-0 (19 KOs), has been the WBC’s interim champion and mandatory heavyweight challenger since knocking out Zhilei Zhang in Riyadh in February 2025, retaining that status with a third-round stoppage of Damian Knyba on home soil back in January.
"First of all, congratulations to Oleksandr,” said Kabayel, who wore a Germany football shirt. “I have waited so long for this fight. I am ready and I think Germany is ready for the fight. Let's do it in a German stadium. I think all the fans want it. Let's do it.”
Usyk responded: “Let's do it, no problem. I am ready, brother.”
Kabayel’s manager, Spencer Brown, said in the ring about a long-awaited fight with Usyk: “It's going to be ordered, they are going to fight.
“I am speechless at Rico; it was an unbelievable performance, but there is a new challenger now. He is in line now; there can only be one fight. They have both agreed to it, let's get it on.
“They are both ready. Whenever they want, I am hoping in September or October in Germany.”
Boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh stated that he wanted Usyk to face Kabayel and also then rematch Verhoeven, but said the decision ultimately rests with Usyk, who has twice previously vacated titles and relinquished undisputed status at heavyweight in order to avoid having to fulfil mandatory challenges.
He gave up the IBF belt to take part in a contracted rematch with Tyson Fury in 2024 rather than face their mandatory Daniel Dubois, whom he later beat for a second time to reclaim it at Wembley last summer.
Usyk also let go of the WBO strap in November after being ordered to meet interim titlist Fabio Wardley, who was upgraded to full champion before losing the belt to British rival Dubois in an epic fight in Manchester earlier this month.
