Oleksandr Usyk may be the only thing standing between Moses Itauma and the fastest route to a WBC heavyweight title opportunity.
The unbeaten British prospect could find himself one step away from the championship picture this summer — but only if the division’s current ruler decides against facing the mandatory challenger next.
Usyk has already mapped out the closing stretch of his career, outlining a three-fight retirement plan that begins with Rico Verhoeven in Egypt before potentially moving on to the winner of Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois and a trilogy bout with Tyson Fury.
“Rico is first. Second, it’s who wins Wardley or Dubois. Third fight, it’s my friend ‘Greedy Belly’ Tyson Fury,” Usyk said on his Ready to Fight app when discussing the schedule he hopes to follow.
That roadmap leaves little room for WBC interim champion Agit Kabayel despite the German occupying the mandatory position.
WBC stance unchanged
The sanctioning body reiterated its position in the March 2026 “Status by Division” update, confirming Usyk has permission to face kickboxer Verhoeven on May 23 in Giza, Egypt.
“Champion Oleksander Usyk was granted a voluntary defense; Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven May 23 in Giza Egypt. The winner must fight next the mandatory challenger interim champion Agit Kabayel.”
The clarification reinforced the WBC’s stance following criticism of the crossover bout. However, the situation beneath the champion remains fluid.
Kabayel questions Usyk
Kabayel has already voiced frustration over the uncertainty surrounding his long-awaited title opportunity.
Speaking to RTL/ntv and sport.de, the German suggested Usyk’s priorities may have shifted away from legacy.
“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.
The undefeated contender strengthened his position with back-to-back Riyadh Season stoppages of Frank Sanchez and Arslanbek Makhmudov before adding knockout wins over Zhilei Zhang and Damian Knyba.
Those performances pushed Kabayel firmly into the mandatory conversation as interim champion, and he was irked to hear Usyk’s initial three-man wishlist.
“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.”
Itauma opportunity
Usyk has since softened his earlier stance regarding the WBC order.
“Maybe I will fight Kabayel – maybe I don’t face Tyson Fury for a third time and I fight Kabayel instead,” the Ukrainian said when asked about the situation.
“I only say my plan but that is not set in stone. Maybe it’s possible I fight Agit. He’s a great fighter and very smart.”
If Usyk ultimately chooses a different route after facing Verhoeven, Kabayel could suddenly be elevated to full champion status.
That scenario would immediately place number-three ranked Moses Itauma in the conversation as a first defense. Itauma recently blasted out Jermain Franklin in Manchester to cement his place as the future of the division.
Itauma is heavily avoided, but Kabayel is known to be willing to face all the top challenges at the weight class.
Without Usyk blocking the path, promoter Frank Warren would almost certainly look toward Kabayel defending the interim championship against the rising British heavyweight, potentially in Germany this summer.
Such a matchup would push Itauma straight into the WBC title picture far earlier than expected. With Kabayel set to inherit the WBC belt if the Usyk fight eludes him, Warren may still consider the matchup viable in the coming months.
Okolie in the Frame
Another name attempting to insert himself into the equation is Lawrence Okolie.
The former cruiserweight and bridgerweight champion currently holds the WBC Silver heavyweight title and has repeatedly called for a fight with Kabayel.
Earlier this year, Okolie posted an image of the German contender sitting on a chicken on social media and labeled him a “self-proclaimed boogeyman.”
Okolie faces Tony Yoka in Paris on April 25 in a scheduled Silver title defense but continues to position himself as a possible opponent should the Kabayel situation shift after the Egypt fight.
For now, the championship order remains clear. Kabayel is the mandatory challenger.
But if Usyk decides not to follow that route after the Verhoeven bout, the roadblock disappears — and Moses Itauma, or Okolie for that matter, could suddenly find himself one fight away from the WBC heavyweight title.
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.
