WBC draws its line
“After his next fight, Oleksandr Usyk MUST defend his WBC heavyweight title against (interim champion) Agit Kabayel, or he must be stripped of the belt. He must fight the interim champion next,” Sulaiman told Chris Mannix’s. YouTube channel.
On paper, this creates a fork in the road. In practice, Usyk has already shown how he handles these situations.
After stopping Daniel Dubois in five rounds on July 19, 2025 to become undisputed heavyweight champion, Usyk later vacated the WBO belt when he was ordered to defend against interim champion Fabio Wardley. He chose autonomy. The division has adapted.
Usyk now holds the WBA, WBC and IBF titles. The WBC is allowing one voluntary defense because Kabayel has scheduled a January fight. After that, the order becomes mandatory. The assumption is that the tire creates pressure. Usyk’s recent history suggests otherwise.
Kabayel is undefeated at 27-0 and has earned his position through activity. He added stops to secure his interim spot and remained visible in a division full of viable contenders. Compact and physically strong, he works the body and keeps moving forward. That style produces difficult rounds, even for elite movers.
At 39, that kind of opponent poses real sporting risk. It doesn’t carry the same commercial appeal as Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, or an up-and-coming name like Moses Itauma. Those fights bring website fees, pay-per-view attention and global markets. They justify the scale.
A Kabayel defense meets the requirement. It doesn’t significantly change the heavyweight conversation. For a champion who has already completed the undisputed run, that distinction matters.
The uncontested chase demanded compliance. Every belt had to be defended and every order respected. That phase of his career called for it.
When the WBO later instructed him to face Wardley, Usyk walked away instead. The market remained steady. His standing has not changed. It told its own story.
Where the lever sits
Elite heavyweights now operate from financial security and an established legacy. The belt no longer defines their value in the same way. If Kabayel is fought next, it will be because Usyk wants it. If a bigger opportunity arises, recent history suggests that the belt will once again be the flexible piece.
The WBC issued its directive. Whether it carries real power depends on the champion. Usyk has already shown that he is willing to decide for himself.
