Dogli Wilberforce
Frank Warren has warned the World Boxing Council that legal action could follow if Agit Kabayel is not ordered to face Oleksandr Usyk for the heavyweight title. The issue comes as Usyk prepares for a crossover fight against Rico Verhoeven in Egypt. Kabayel holds the WBC interim title and is ranked as the number-one contender. Warren made his position clear in a recent interview, pointing to the rules around mandatory challengers. The situation has drawn attention across the division, with the WBC yet to respond publicly as questions remain about what fight will be ordered next.
Frank Warren Insists Kabayel Deserves a Title Shot
Warren outlined his stance in an interview with BoxingScene, saying the mandatory fight must happen. “Kabayel’s number one in the WBC, and the fight goes on in Egypt between Usyk and Rico Verhoeven, and afterward the WBC will have to order the mandatory, and if they don’t, we will sue them.”
He stressed that Kabayel has earned the opportunity. “I’m telling you, I’m not going to piss around with this. Agit [Kabayel] deserves his opportunity; he should be in there, and if anyone tries to duck that fight, then he’ll have to vacate. It’s as simple as that. Fight Agit or vacate.”
Kabayel secured his position by stopping Zhilei Zhang in February 2025 to win the interim title. He later defended it against Damian Knyba in January.
Warren Questions WBC decision-making
Warren also questioned why the mandatory has not already been confirmed. “We are not going to stand for it, why would an organisation not order that fight, why wouldn’t you?” he said.
He pointed to Kabayel’s recent success to support his argument. “We just sold out the arena [in Kabayel’s last fight] in a day, which we could have sold out three times over. It’s not like he’s some guy where you’re not going to earn any money, that’s a football stadium fight between him and Usyk.”
Warren also spoke about Usyk’s standing in the sport. “I want to see it. I’m a big fan of Usyk’s, he’s a real warrior, why wouldn’t he want to fight him?” he said.
Oleksandr Usyk Plans to Add to the Ongoing Situation
Usyk has already outlined his next fights, starting with the bout against Verhoeven. That fight is scheduled to take place before any mandatory defense.
The WBC has not yet announced whether it will order the Kabayel fight. The decision could affect the direction of the heavyweight division in the coming months.
For now, Warren’s comments make it clear that Kabayel’s team expects the mandatory to be enforced. The situation remains unresolved as both sides wait for the WBC’s next move.
