Oleksandr Usyk Criticised for 'Ducking' Mandatory Challenger in Favour of Kickboxer Bout
Oleksandr Usyk has come under fire for opting to defend his WBC heavyweight title against kickboxer Rico Verhoeven rather than facing one of his mandatory challengers, with accusations that he is chasing a substantial payday over sporting challenges.
Controversial Match-Up Scheduled for Egypt
The Ukrainian champion will step into the ring with Dutch kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven in Egypt on May 23, a decision that has sparked significant criticism within the boxing community. To make this fight happen, Usyk has relinquished his WBO belt, thereby avoiding a defence of his undisputed crown against Fabio Wardley.
Verhoeven, while widely recognised as one of the greatest kickboxers of all time, has only competed once as a professional boxer, raising questions about the legitimacy of this title defence.
Kabayel Voices Frustration Over Being Overlooked
Agit Kabayel, who holds the interim WBC title and is the mandatory challenger to Usyk, has expressed his dismay at being excluded from the champion's plans. Kabayel believes Usyk is no longer seeking genuine sporting challenges.
"When I read the comments, people say, why doesn't Agit fight [Deontay] Wilder or so-and-so, why should I box someone who is so far behind in the rankings when I box against people who are practically ahead of me?" Kabayel stated. "The fact we haven't been able to secure the Usyk fight is questionable. I just think by now, Usyk isn't looking for a sporting challenge anymore. He's still thinking about a pay day."
Usyk's Retirement Plan and Future Ambitions
Earlier this week, Usyk outlined the final three fights of his illustrious career. His plan includes facing the winner of the upcoming clash between Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois, followed by a highly anticipated trilogy bout with Tyson Fury.
Notably absent from this hitlist is Kabayel, a fighter who has diligently worked his way up the rankings. Kabayel highlighted his recent victories over formidable opponents like Arslanbek Makhmudov and Frank Sanchez, fighters whom others avoided.
"We fought [Arslanbek] Makhmudov, whom nobody wanted to fight against because he was seen as the great Grizzy, who basically knocked out everyone," Kabayel explained. "We fought Frank Sanchez, who was also higher ranked than everyone at the top but nobody wanted to fight him."
Motivation and Perseverance Amidst Setbacks
Despite the frustration of being bypassed for a title shot, Kabayel remains determined to continue his pursuit of championship glory. He emphasised the dedication required in training and the mental toll of facing obstacles despite his high ranking.
"Like I said, I don't want to throw away any chance. I'm close to achieving something big, but at some point, I have to be honest with you, it starts to get on your nerves," he admitted. "The way we train, we give it our all. I had ups and downs, and I thought, hey, you give it your all every time. I'm up to No.2 in all the rankings and yet people try to put obstacles in my way."
Kabayel concluded with a note of resilience, "But nevertheless, as I said, we'll keep going, at least try to stay motivated, to stay clear in my head, and yeah, as I said, it's not in our power, right? I hope God does it the way it's written for me."
The boxing world now watches closely as Usyk prepares for his unconventional defence, while mandatory challengers like Kabayel await their rightful opportunities on the sport's biggest stage.
