After reports said the green and gold belt would be up for grabs in Egypt, Sulaiman said Sports Illustrated that there was no formal discussion about sanctioning the fight as a title defense.
“The WBC fully supports this crusade,” said Sulaiman.
“We will create an incredible belt that contains the elements of the Pyramids of Egypt.
“At the moment there is no discussion of a request for a title defense and only a special event involving the WBC heavyweight champion.”
In simple terms, the WBC is willing to support the event and design a new belt. What remains unclear is whether his actual heavyweight title will be defended.
Agit Kabayel holds the WBC interim heavyweight belt. That’s supposed to mean he’s next, not that he gets a nice photo and a polite round of applause. The interim title exists to close in the mandatory location. Kabayel earned it the old fashioned way by beating ranked heavyweights under WBC sanction. He didn’t pick it up because he showed up to a press conference or changed sports for the evening.
If the Usyk fight is treated as a special event, the WBC sidesteps the question of why an unranked opponent is placed before its interim champion. If approved as a defense, Kabayel’s mandatory status should activate immediately thereafter.
Usyk, 22-0, addressed Verhoeven’s credentials.
“I really respect people who reach the very top in their sport. Rico is one of them, a powerful athlete and a great champion. But this is boxing, a different game, with its own rules and its own kings.”
That’s how it’s supposed to work. Sanctioning bodies write rules, rankings establish order, and interim titles identify the next man in line. At least that’s the theory printed on the paperwork.
Kabayel handled his end. He is undefeated. He holds the interim belt. Under WBC guidelines, this puts him in the mandatory position.
The WBC must now decide whether its heavyweight title follows its own ranking structure or whether event considerations take priority. If interim status means anything, Kabayel is next.
If the WBC doesn’t enforce Kabayel’s mandatory position, the interim belt becomes meaningless and the organization loses the credibility it claims to protect, if it had much left to begin with. You can’t talk about structure, collect sanction fees and then ignore your own ranking when a crossover opportunity looks more profitable.
