Oleksandr Usyk could be persuaded to amend his three-fight plan, potentially shifting his focus away from a clash with the winner of Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois.<\/p>\n
The Ukrainian outlined his exit strategy<\/a> in March, shortly after it was announced that he would collide with Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven on May 23.<\/p>\n This represents Usyk\u2019s first outing since July, back when he became a three-time undisputed champion by stopping Dubois in the fifth round.<\/p>\n Since then, he has vacated his WBO title but still holds the IBF, WBA and WBC belts as he gears up to defend the latter against Verhoeven at Egypt\u2019s Pyramids of Giza.<\/p>\n After that, the 39-year-old has expressed his desire to face the winner of Wardley-Dubois, which takes place at Manchester\u2019s Co-op Live Arena on May 9.<\/p>\n Wardley was elevated from \u2018interim\u2019 to full WBO world champion following his 11th-round triumph over Joseph Parker, who suffered the upset defeat in October.<\/p>\n Should he emerge victorious next Saturday, then the 31-year-old has made it no secret that he will be targeting a potential undisputed showdown with Usyk.<\/p>\n There is a good chance, however, that the WBC will order Usyk to defend his heavyweight title against Agit Kabayel, who holds the sanctioning body\u2019s \u2018interim\u2019 belt.<\/p>\n At the same time, The Ring\u2019s Mike Coppinger has reported that Turki Alalshikh is keen to negotiate a fight between the pair<\/a> in Kabayel\u2019s home nation of Germany.<\/p>\n Turki Alalshikh plans to sit down with Oleksandr Usyk to discuss a Ring Magazine heavyweight title fight against Agit Kabayel later this year in Germany if Usyk defeats Rico Verhoeven on May 23 at the Pyramids of Giza, The Ring\u2019s @MikeCoppinger<\/a> has learned. pic.twitter.com\/etrhMhSRVi<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) May 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Having not fought since his third-round finish over Damian Knyba in January, Kabayel\u2019s next outing is likely to take place in the second half of this year, regardless of whether it involves Usyk.<\/p>\n