Frank Warren has warned Oleksandr Usyk that he “won’t put up with” the Ukrainian fighter looking for a rematch with Rico Verhoeven instead of fighting Agit Kabayel.
Usyk survived a massive scare to stop Verhoeven in the final seconds of the 11th round when the Dutch kickboxer threatened to pull off one of boxing’s greatest upsets at Giza.
The WBC heavyweight world champion sparked rematch talks when promoter Turki Alalshikh took the stage and said Verhoeven’s performance had changed the conversation.
Kabayel is Usyk’s WBC mandatory challenger and risks being stripped of the belt if he decides to face another opponent. Queensberry Promotions Director Warren strongly recommends this decision to the title holder.
Will Oleksandr Usyk face mandatory challenger Agit Kabayel or vacate his WBC heavyweight title?
“(Cabayel) has beaten everyone that’s been put in front of him and he’s a real, real class performer, a lovely guy and he can fight,” Warren said. Sky Sports. “He deserves to be number one and has been there for a while.
“They’re probably talking about doing a rematch with Usyk and Rico (Verhoeven), but we wouldn’t support that.
“Usyk has been there long enough and he wants his moment and that’s what we’ll be pushing for in the WBC and hopefully we can get through that and do it in the fall at the same time.”
Agit Kabayel congratulates him on retaining his WBC interim world heavyweight title belt.
“If he doesn’t accept it, he will have to vacate it or forfeit it. It’s as simple as that.
“You are a champion. Defending that belt is why you exist. If you can’t defend the belt, you have to give it up and give others a chance to make a name for themselves.”
WARREN: Verhoeven surprised everyone.
Oleksandr Usyk risks losing his title belt if he chooses another challenger.
Despite Warren preferring his opponent, the promoter was more than full of praise for Verhoeven, who shocked audiences around the world by shutting out the undefeated Uysk for only the second time in every professional bout.
“I thought it was pretty routine for Usyk, but it turned out otherwise,” Warren said.
“Old Rico, he showed a lot of heart, a lot of desire, showed some skill, was very aggressive in his movements and the way he went forward.
“For me, (Verhoeven) was winning the fight. I didn’t understand the scoring. I genuinely thought he was ahead by a few rounds.
Oleksandr Usyk knocked out Rico Verhoeven in the 11th round of their WBC heavyweight title fight in Egypt.
“I think the referee could have continued the fight. That said, the referee is not the timekeeper. That’s not his job. It’s when he feels it’s appropriate to stop the fight. That’s what he should do.”
“But considering where they got to in the 11th round, I think he could have continued the fight. But he was close to the action. That was his decision, and it turned out to be a very exciting fight and a big surprise.”
Watch Chris Billam-Smith vs Ryan Rozicki live from the Zuffa Boxing Show in Bournemouth on June 6 on Sky Sports.
