A New Twist Has Put Usyk’s Next Fight Under The Spotlight

Oleksandr Usyk’s next move was already expected to become one of the biggest stories in heavyweight boxing. Now, with Deontay Wilder pushing toward a blockbuster showdown and Agit Kabayel sitting at 27-0, the situation has become even more complicated.

For months, Kabayel appeared to be moving directly toward Usyk after establishing himself as one of the leading contenders in the heavyweight division. The undefeated German had repeatedly called for the opportunity, and at one point even shared the ring with Usyk after his victory over Rico Verhoeven, where both fighters indicated that they were willing to make the fight happen.

But the heavyweight landscape changed dramatically in June.

Usyk vacated his WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight championships, while retaining The Ring championship. Kabayel was subsequently elevated from WBC interim champion to full WBC heavyweight champion.

That decision removed the mandatory-title pathway that had been pointing toward a Usyk-Kabayel meeting.

Yet Kabayel did not disappear from the picture.

Instead, the 33-year-old remained one of the most important names surrounding Usyk’s future, while Wilder emerged as a potential opponent for what could be Usyk’s final major fight.

And that is where the latest heavyweight drama begins.

Wilder Wants The Spotlight — But Kabayel Is Still Waiting

Deontay Wilder has long represented one of the biggest names available to Usyk.

The former WBC heavyweight champion built his reputation around devastating knockout power and spent years near the top of the division. A fight with Usyk would also carry an obvious commercial attraction because of the contrast between Usyk’s technical movement and Wilder’s explosive punching power.

Recent reports have indicated that Usyk and Wilder are moving toward a potential meeting, with Eddie Hearn saying in June that he believed Usyk wanted Wilder for his next fight. Hearn also suggested that Usyk was interested in choosing the fight that made the most sense for the final stage of his career.

That possibility immediately created a major question around Kabayel.

Why Wilder when Kabayel remains undefeated?

That question is particularly relevant because Kabayel is no longer simply a contender waiting for his opportunity.

He is now the WBC heavyweight champion.

Kabayel earned the interim WBC title by stopping Zhilei Zhang in February 2025 and successfully defended it against Damian Knyba in January 2026. His victory over Knyba pushed his professional record to 27-0 with 19 knockouts.

The German heavyweight has therefore built a résumé that cannot simply be ignored.

Kabayel’s 27-0 Record Has Become Impossible To Overlook

Kabayel’s rise has been one of the most interesting developments in the heavyweight division.

He entered 2026 without a professional defeat and continued his momentum by stopping Knyba in the third round. Before that, he had already produced notable victories over Zhilei Zhang, Frank Sánchez and Arslanbek Makhmudov.

The Knyba victory was particularly important because it demonstrated that Kabayel could handle another dangerous heavyweight while fighting under considerable pressure.

After the victory, Kabayel made his intentions clear.

He wanted the world title opportunity.

“I’m ready,” was the message he delivered after defeating Knyba, while calling for the Usyk fight.

At that stage, the pathway appeared relatively straightforward.

Usyk held the WBC title.

Kabayel held the interim belt.

A mandatory championship fight was therefore becoming increasingly difficult to avoid.

But Usyk ultimately chose another route.

Usyk’s Decision Completely Changed The Equation

The biggest development came when Usyk vacated his WBA, WBC and IBF titles.

The decision transformed Kabayel’s position overnight.

Instead of waiting for a mandatory challenge against Usyk, Kabayel was elevated to full WBC heavyweight champion.

That meant the previously expected Usyk-Kabayel championship fight was no longer required by the WBC.

At the same time, Usyk retained The Ring championship, keeping his status at the very top of the heavyweight division intact.

The Ukrainian superstar also made it clear that the final stage of his career would be carefully selected.

That is why Wilder has suddenly become such a significant name.

A fight against Wilder would not be a mandatory obligation.

It would be a major event built around two globally recognized heavyweight names.

And for Usyk, that distinction matters.

The Wilder Fight Offers A Completely Different Story

A potential Usyk-Wilder fight would represent a clash between two very different heavyweight identities.

Usyk has built his career around movement, timing, angles, combinations and tactical adjustments.

Wilder became famous for something much simpler and far more dangerous: one-punch knockout power.

That contrast alone gives the matchup enormous appeal.

Wilder does not need to dominate an entire fight to change its outcome. His right hand has historically been capable of ending fights instantly.

Usyk, meanwhile, has repeatedly shown the ability to manage dangerous opponents through movement and technical discipline.

That creates a natural storyline.

Can Usyk control the distance long enough to neutralize Wilder’s power?

Or can Wilder land the one shot that changes everything?

Those questions make the matchup commercially attractive even without a world title directly attached to it.

That is also why the possibility of Wilder becoming Usyk’s next opponent has created so much attention around Kabayel.

Kabayel Is No Longer Just A Challenger

The situation would have been very different if Kabayel were still simply an unbeaten contender.

He is not.

He is now the WBC champion.

The Ring has also continued to place Kabayel among the leading heavyweights, with a recent report identifying him as the No. 2 contender while noting that Usyk appears headed toward a farewell fight against Wilder.

Kabayel’s position therefore gives him leverage that he did not have earlier in his career.

He no longer needs to chase Usyk simply because he wants a championship opportunity.

He already has a world championship.

Instead, the question has become whether Usyk and Kabayel will eventually meet in a fight involving The Ring championship and Kabayel’s WBC title.

That possibility would immediately create another major heavyweight unification storyline.

Kabayel Has Already Sent A Message To The Entire Division

Kabayel’s attitude since becoming champion has also been significant.

After being elevated to full WBC champion, he indicated that he was willing to fight anyone. In an interview with The Ring, Kabayel described the change in his position by explaining that he had gone from being the hunter to becoming the fighter everyone else was hunting.

That is an important shift.

For years, Kabayel was the fighter asking for opportunities.

Now, other heavyweights have a reason to call his name.

Tyson Fury has been linked with Kabayel.

Anthony Joshua has also been mentioned as a possible opponent.

And Usyk remains the name most closely connected with the biggest possible championship scenario.

Kabayel therefore finds himself at the center of the heavyweight division rather than waiting outside it.

The Real Question Is What Usyk Wants For His Final Chapter

Usyk’s career situation makes the decision even more fascinating.

If the Ukrainian champion is genuinely approaching the final stage of his professional career, every remaining fight carries additional significance.

He does not have an unlimited number of opportunities left.

That means his opponent selection becomes part of the story.

A mandatory defense against Kabayel would offer a high-level sporting challenge.

A fight with Wilder would offer a different type of attraction, built around a former world champion, explosive knockout power and enormous name recognition.

Neither storyline can be reduced to a simple decision.

Kabayel represents the undefeated champion who has spent years climbing toward the top.

Wilder represents one of the most recognizable knockout artists of his generation.

And Usyk stands between those two paths with the freedom to decide how the final chapter of his career develops.

The Kabayel Factor Could Still Change Everything

This is why the undefeated German remains such an important part of the story.

Even if Usyk and Wilder eventually reach an agreement, Kabayel’s presence cannot simply be erased.

The 27-0 record is real.

The WBC championship is real.

The victories over Zhang and Knyba are real.

And Kabayel has already publicly expressed his willingness to face Usyk.

That creates a fascinating situation in the heavyweight division.

Usyk could pursue the massive Wilder event.

Kabayel could defend his WBC championship while waiting for the outcome.

And depending on how the division develops, the winner of future heavyweight fights could eventually find themselves drawn toward the same collision course.

Why Kabayel Could Be The Biggest Wild Card

The most interesting element may be that Kabayel does not need to force the situation anymore.

His position has changed.

If Wilder becomes Usyk’s next opponent, Kabayel can continue defending his WBC championship and building his reputation.

If Usyk wins, the possibility of a future Usyk-Kabayel championship showdown remains highly significant.

If Wilder wins, the entire heavyweight landscape changes again.

And if Kabayel continues winning, his bargaining position becomes even stronger.

That makes his undefeated record more than a statistic.

It is leverage.

Every additional victory strengthens the argument that Kabayel belongs in the biggest heavyweight fights available.

A Potential Collision Between Two Different Heavyweight Eras

There is also a generational element to the story.

Usyk is nearing the end of a remarkable championship career.

Wilder is a former longtime WBC champion attempting to remain relevant at the highest level.

Kabayel represents the undefeated champion who has steadily moved from contender status into the center of the heavyweight picture.

Their positions could not be more different.

Usyk is protecting the final stage of his legacy.

Wilder is chasing another defining opportunity.

Kabayel is building a new chapter as a world champion.

That is what makes the current heavyweight situation so unpredictable.

The Next Move Could Reshape The Division

For now, the key development is that Usyk-Wilder has emerged as a serious potential direction, while Kabayel remains one of the most important heavyweight figures waiting on the other side of the equation. Recent reporting has specifically identified Wilder as the likely direction for Usyk, while Kabayel remains the WBC champion and one of the division’s leading names.

There is no confirmed Usyk-Wilder fight announcement in the sources reviewed here, so the matchup should be treated as a developing possibility rather than a completed deal.

But the bigger story is already clear.

Usyk’s next decision could determine the direction of the heavyweight division.

If he chooses Wilder, the fight would bring together two of the most recognizable names of the modern heavyweight era.

If the focus eventually returns to Kabayel, the storyline becomes even more compelling because the German is no longer simply an unbeaten challenger.

He is a 27-0 world champion.

And he has been waiting for this moment for a very long time.

The heavyweight division now has three powerful storylines running at the same time: Usyk’s final chapter, Wilder’s pursuit of another mega-fight, and Kabayel’s rise as an undefeated world champion.

That combination has created a situation where one announcement could completely change the landscape once again.

For Usyk, the decision is about more than simply choosing another opponent.

It could define the final chapter of his career.

For Wilder, it could be the opportunity to create one last defining moment.

And for Kabayel, the message is already clear.

He is no longer waiting outside the door.

He is holding a world championship and waiting for the biggest names in heavyweight boxing to come to him.