{"id":511909,"date":"2026-03-01T14:14:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-01T14:14:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/511909\/"},"modified":"2026-03-01T14:14:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-01T14:14:09","slug":"agit-kabayel-reacts-to-oleksandr-usyk-facing-rico-verhoeven-instead-of-him","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/511909\/","title":{"rendered":"Agit Kabayel reacts to Oleksandr Usyk facing Rico Verhoeven instead of him"},"content":{"rendered":"

WBC interim champion Agit Kabayel<\/a> has shared his thoughts on Oleksandr Usyk<\/a>\u2019s upcoming fight against Rico Verhoeven on May 23.<\/p>\n

It was announced on Friday that Usyk will face the kickboxing star at Egypt\u2019s Pyramids of Giza. Initially, it was believed that his WBC belt would be on the line; however, the WBC has since cast doubt on whether that will be the case<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Despite boasting a decorated combat sports background, Verhoeven has had just one outing in a professional boxing ring, scoring a second-round stoppage victory over Janos Finfera in 2014.<\/p>\n

His opponent, at the time, had a record of 0-5, and yet the 36-year-old is now gearing up to collide with the greatest heavyweight of this era.<\/a><\/p>\n

Having twice beaten Tyson Fury<\/a>, Anthony Joshua<\/a> and Daniel Dubois<\/a>, Usyk is widely regarded as the leading pound-for-pound operator in this sport.<\/p>\n

His last outing, which saw the Ukrainian engineer a fifth-round finish over Dubois in July, cemented his status as a three-time, two-division undisputed champion.<\/p>\n

At the same time, though, many feel that unbeaten contender Kabayel has more than earned his shot at the 39-year-old, especially after claiming stoppages over Zhilei Zhang and Frank Sanchez.<\/p>\n

But while he was likely eager to face Usyk sooner, the 33-year-old must now wait a little while longer before landing his world title opportunity.<\/p>\n

Posting on his Instagram story<\/a>, Kabayel reacted to the fight news and said his shot at the full WBC title will likely arrive after his next outing.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s official. Just one fight to go. Then we\u2019re next. Blow up the comments!\u201d<\/p>\n

An opponent for his next assignment is yet to be confirmed, but the German is likely full of confidence following his third-round finish over Damian Knyba<\/a> last month.<\/p>\n