Undisputed boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk has cautiously offered German boxer Agit Kabayel hope for a world title fight.
The Ukrainian heavyweight champion suggested in an interview that a clash with the German challenger could be a possible option, even as an alternative to a third encounter with former champion Tyson Fury.
«Perhaps I’ll fight Kabayel – maybe I won’t box Tyson Fury a third time and will instead face Kabayel,» Usyk was quoted as saying. However, he emphasized that his plans are not definitive: «I’m just expressing my thoughts, but they are not set in stone.» At the same time, he dismissed demands for a mandatory fight against Kabayel: «I understand that Agit’s fans say: You have to fight him. But I don’t have to fight him.»
Following his recent victory for the undisputed title, Usyk had not explicitly included Kabayel in his initial future plans. Instead, he had mentioned a potential clash with the winner of the WBO title fight between Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois, as well as another encounter with Fury.
Usyk on Kabayel: ‘A Great Boxer’
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For Kabayel, the situation thus remains open. As the WBC Interim World Champion, the 33-year-old undefeated German (27 wins) has the right to a mandatory fight against Usyk, which the association has ordered for the autumn. Nevertheless, he is preparing without a confirmed opponent and is aiming for a world title fight in September in Germany. Should Usyk not compete, Kabayel could ascend to regular world champion without a fight – becoming the first German heavyweight world champion since the legend Max Schmeling in the early 1930s.
Usyk’s respect appears to be significant. «All I can say is: He is a great boxer and very intelligent,» the Ukrainian remarked.