Unified Heavyweight Champion Oleksandr Usyk (23-0) says WBC interim champion Agit Kabayel could replace Tyson Fury as his final opponent.
Usyk has outlined a specific three-fight path to retirement:
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Rico Verhoeven (May 23, 2026): A WBC title defense and crossover against ex-Glory Kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven
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Dubois vs. Wardley Winner: A unification bout against the victor of the May 9 clash between Daniel Dubois (IBF) and Fabio Wardley (WBO).
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Tyson Fury III or Agit Kabayel: A trilogy bout with “The Gypsy King,” or face the WBC interim champ Kabayel.
Kabayel captured the WBC interim belt by stopping Zhilei Zhang in February 2025 and recently defended it with a third-round TKO of Damian Knyba in January 2026. While the WBC granted Usyk a “voluntary” defense against Verhoeven, they have officially ruled that the winner must face Kabayel next to maintain the championship status, making Kabayel the more logical “legacy” choice for Usyk.
“I understand the Agit fans are saying you must fight him, you must fight him, but I don’t have to fight him. Maybe I will fight Kabayel – maybe I don’t face Tyson Fury for a third time and I fight Kabayel instead. I must live my life, I must look after my team, my children. As for fighting, I just work hard and my opponents work hard. Look, maybe it’s possible I fight Agit. All I can say is he’s a great fighter and he’s very smart,” Usyk said