Mandatory heavyweight contender Agit Kabayel has questioned whether Oleksandr Usyk is still motivated by legacy after claiming the champion now appears driven by money.
The German contender voiced his concerns while discussing the current heavyweight landscape, suggesting the unified champion is overlooking his mandatory challenger in favor of bigger-money options.
Speaking to RTL/ntv and sport.de, Kabayel admitted his long-standing respect for Usyk’s achievements has recently turned into doubt.
“I’ve always had great respect for Usyk’s sporting achievements and said: ‘Hey, he doesn’t shy away from any challenge and is a man of his word.’ But all he cares about is the money; everything else is uninteresting to him. I’ve noticed that again now, extremely clearly,” Kabayel said.
Kabayel strengthens his case
Kabayel’s stance comes despite the German strengthening his own credentials as a leading challenger over the past year.
The undefeated heavyweight lit up Riyadh Season with two emphatic stoppages of genuine contenders, first dismantling Frank Sanchez before halting Arslanbek Makhmudov in another statement victory.
Those wins pushed Kabayel firmly into the mandatory conversation as interim ruler, placing him directly in line for a shot under WBC positioning, yet the German has still been forced to wait his turn.
“How can he not name the number one ranked opponent, his mandatory challenger? It’s simply sad that he would rather fight Dubois or Fury a third time, even though he has already beaten both of them twice,” Kabayel added.
“I have a big question mark in my head now.”
Usyk crossover talk
The possibility of Usyk facing kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven has only added to Kabayel’s concerns.
Instead of the unbeaten challenger being slotted in while the champion had some downtime, the Ukrainian has entertained the idea of a crossover bout and even floated the possibility of the WBC title being on the line.
“People should stop saying, ‘Who did Kabayel box?’ Fabio Wardley avoided me, Daniel Dubois too, they know that. Nevertheless, we have to move on.”
If Usyk does not face Kabayel following the proposed Verhoeven fight — assuming the crossover bout materializes — the situation could soon become complicated.
With Usyk already discussing a potential three-fight retirement plan, the WBC could soon be placed under pressure to clarify the mandatory position at heavyweight.
Should that happen, Kabayel could suddenly find himself on the brink of history with the chance to become the first German heavyweight champion since Max Schmeling nearly a century ago.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a veteran boxing reporter with 15+ years of experience. He has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside since 2010. Read full bio.
