Though Rico Verhoeven, and plenty of fans, might argue he deserves a rematch with Oleksandr Usyk following his controversial defeat on Saturday night, promoter Frank Warren is demanding that the Ukrainian move on.
Warren represents Agit Kabayel, the German heavyweight who holds the WBC interim title and is awaiting his deserved shot at 39-year-old Usyk.
Kabayel, 27-0 (19 KOs), is widely regarded as Usyk’s leading challenger, a status only strengthened last weekend when one of Kabayel’s past victims, Frank Sanchez, saw his stock rise when he flattened Richard Torrez Jnr in just two rounds.
After that, in the Egypt main event, Usyk was made to huff and puff by kickboxer Verhoeven before pulling out the victory at the bell to end the 11th when referee Mark Lyson called a contentious halt.
"[Kabayel] has beaten everybody he's put in front of him, and he's a real, real class act, a lovely guy, and he can fight," Warren told Sky Sports. "He deserves to be in, in the number one spot, and he's been there for a while.
"They're talking about maybe doing a rematch with Usyk and Rico [Verhoeven], we're not going to stand for that.
"Usyk's been there long enough, and he wants his moment, and that's what we'll be pushing for with WBC, and hopefully get it over the line and do that same time in the autumn.
"If he doesn't take it, he'll have to vacate it, or be stripped, it's as simple as that."You're a champion, you defend the belts, that's what you're there for, if you don't defend them, then you've got to give them up and let other people have an opportunity to build their name.”
Last December, at their annual convention in Bangkok, the WBC confirmed that Usyk - following one voluntary - must face Kabayel in 2026 if he was to retain his status as champion. The Ukrainian also holds the IBF and WBA belts.
