Frank Warren to Push Usyk vs Kabayel Over Verhoeven Rematch
The boxing world is screaming for a rematch after unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk’s controversial win over “King of Kickboxing” Rico Verhoeven. Yet, Queensberry Promotions chairman Frank Warren is not about to leave his fighter, WBC interim titlist Agit Kabayel (27-0, 19KO), standing on the sidelines.
Boxing fans and pundits watched in disbelief as Verhoeven (1-1, 1KO) was beating the unified champion with relative ease. Then in the eleventh round, Usyk (25-0, 16KO) dropped and wobbled Verhoeven, resulting in the referee stopping the fight.
Immediately following this controversial stoppage, the entire boxing and MMA community took to social media in outrage. Uysk looked bad. There is no other way to say it. He didn’t look like that guy who knocked out of three-time champion Daniel Dubois in July 2025.
PUMP THE BRAKES
Saudi power player Turki Alalshikh made it clear that Verhoeven deserved a rematch. In addition, he acknowledged that Kabayel is also in line for a title shot. However, Warren doesn’t want to hear any nonsense about a rematch. He told Sky Sports they are ready to force the WBC organization’s hand to order the mandatory fight.
“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. He deserves to be 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; 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.”
Warren is correct. The interim champion secured the mandatory spot after defeating Zhieli Zhang in February 2025. Undoubtedly, Team Kabayel is looking at Usyk like a T-bone steak ready to be devoured.
In this author’s opinion, the version of Usyk that fought Verhoeven will be beaten by Kabayel.
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