Agit Kabayel - New WBC Heavyweight Champion

[Ruthless-RKO]

Its official.

Who should he fight? Will they enforce a mandatory?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Agit Kabayel has now been officially elevated to become the WBC heavyweight world champion after Oleksandr Usyk vacated his titles.

Kabayel previously held the WBC 'interim' belt.

[handsofstone]

Whatever happened to fighting the next ranked challenger for the vacant title? We need to rid this habit of handing out belts

[gilgamesh]

Whatever happened to fighting the next ranked challenger for the vacant title? We need to rid this habit of handing out belts

If he doesn't ever successfully defend it he will have the dubious honor of joining the list of men who have been "Heavyweight Champion" of some sort in spite of never having won a Heavyweight Championship fight.

Right now that list is 2 names long.

Ken Norton and Fabio Wardley

Wardley of course just recently joined the list, and this kinda thing could definitely become a trend if they keep handing out belts as opposed to letting them be won the old fashioned way. In the ring.

[paultom]

Whatever happened to fighting the next ranked challenger for the vacant title? We need to rid this habit of handing out belts

If he doesn't ever successfully defend it he will have the dubious honor of joining the list of men who have been "Heavyweight Champion" of some sort in spite of never having won a Heavyweight Championship fight.

Right now that list is 2 names long.

Ken Norton and Fabio Wardley

Wardley of course just recently joined the list, and this kinda thing could definitely become a trend if they keep handing out belts as opposed to letting them be won the old fashioned way. In the ring.

i;m surprised there have been 48 years between these two, i thought it happened more often, but never really studied it to find out

[gilgamesh]

Whatever happened to fighting the next ranked challenger for the vacant title? We need to rid this habit of handing out belts

If he doesn't ever successfully defend it he will have the dubious honor of joining the list of men who have been "Heavyweight Champion" of some sort in spite of never having won a Heavyweight Championship fight.

Right now that list is 2 names long.

Ken Norton and Fabio Wardley

Wardley of course just recently joined the list, and this kinda thing could definitely become a trend if they keep handing out belts as opposed to letting them be won the old fashioned way. In the ring.

i;m surprised there have been 48 years between these two, i thought it happened more often, but never really studied it to find out

I've been taking a particularly in depth look into this kinda thing. Especially with the Heavyweight division.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Whatever happened to fighting the next ranked challenger for the vacant title? We need to rid this habit of handing out belts

He wasn’t mandatory though. That’s the issue.

He wasn’t ranked. He was interim champion. So automatically just elevates you.

I agree tho. He should be mandated to fight #2. Let him have the belt, but he has to prove it now and beat the next best contender.

[Taansend]

I like that. Love Ken Norton & really admire Wardley.

Weird facts like that are great.

It took George Foreman over 25 years to win a World title fight in his own country

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Finkel]

I wonder if Frank will try to get Itauma (#3) v Hrgovic (#4) sanctioned as a WBC final eliminator.

I recall WBC and WBO had formed closer ties last year so they might even allow it to be a mandatory for either title.

In the mean time, Kabayel should fight a voluntary (top #15) or possibly even Gassiev (WBA unification), I can't believe Sulaiman would fear Gassiev, and so likely doesn't stand in the way.

Letting Fury (#1) fight for the WBC again is a gamble after his trips to the US and chats with Zuffa. And I assume Okolie (#2) is still having issues in the background with VADA

[joshj909]

If we assume that Itauma and Hrgovic Wil go for the IBF, WBA or WBO which are more likely. Also, assume that Fury and Joshua won't fight Kabayel because of their big fight scheduled for the end of the year. Also that Okolie will get a ban for his failed test. Also. That Sanchez will stay in his position for the vacant IBF belt. Also that Usyk will be facing Wilder. Also, that Kabayel won't choose a voluntary against Ajagba who is restricted to Zuffa. These are the remaining WBC ranked heavyweights:

Verhoeven
Riakporhe
Bakole
Novytskyi
Jalolov
Vianello
Xhoxhaj

[Syntax Error]

Its official.

Who should he fight? Will they enforce a mandatory?

It's going to be Tyson Fury, I predict.

[SeanBrennan]

Elevation isn’t ideal but if anyone was going to be, I’m glad it’s Kabayel

[Pukka Cheese]

Wouldn't be surprised if we get a Dubois Vs Kabayel unification next.

Fabio gets more time to recover and maybe even a few quid to step aside depending on how solid his rematch clause is..

[SeanBrennan]

Wouldn't be surprised if we get a Dubois Vs Kabayel unification next.

Fabio gets more time to recover and maybe even a few quid to step aside depending on how solid his rematch clause is..

I don’t think Fabio is built like that he’s going again

[joshj909]

If we assume that Itauma and Hrgovic Wil go for the IBF, WBA or WBO which are more likely. Also, assume that Fury and Joshua won't fight Kabayel because of their big fight scheduled for the end of the year. Also that Okolie will get a ban for his failed test. Also. That Sanchez will stay in his position for the vacant IBF belt. Also that Usyk will be facing Wilder. Also, that Kabayel won't choose a voluntary against Ajagba who is restricted to Zuffa. These are the remaining WBC ranked heavyweights:

Verhoeven
Riakporhe
Bakole
Novytskyi
Jalolov
Vianello
Xhoxhaj

That's a lot of 'also' mate

It is but they all make sense

[Ruthless-RKO]

Can anybody see an Ngannou type scenario if Verhoeven boxes again?

Did better than expected in first fight*

Gets obliterated in second fight.


*I know he had a fight against a journeyman years ago but you know what I mean.

Have they tested him yet?

[gilgamesh]

That's a lot of 'also' mate

It is but they all make sense

Not really, but this does:

If we assume that Itauma and Hrgovic fight for either the IBF, WBA or WBO, Fury and Joshua don't fight Kabayel because of their upcoming fight, Okolie is banned for his failed test, Sanchez stays in position for the IBF, Usyk faces Wilder, and Kabayel can't choose a voluntary against Ajagba who is restricted to Zuffa, these are the remaining WBC ranked heavyweights.

When Joshua and Fury win their tune up bouts they will be elevated to #1 and #2 contender status to fill one of these vacant titles. Guaranteed.

[gilgamesh]

It doesn't matter what happens to the WBA Regular. It's not a World Title.

The WBA Regular title is as important as the IBO or the WBU title.

In other words. Not at all.

[keithmoonhangover]

Kabayel-Rico incoming.

[Riddick Bowie]

What an empty, anti climatic way of becoming 'champion'.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Agit Kabayel offers Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Moses Itauma the chance to fight for WBC heavyweight title

"This is my era!" Agit Kabayel reacts to becoming the WBC's new heavyweight world champion and reveals his hitlist; he wants to make his first defence of the title in September or October and offers Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Moses Itauma the chance to challenge him for the belt

Agit Kabayel is open to defending his WBC heavyweight world title against Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury or Moses Itauma.

When Oleksandr Usyk vacated his belts, Kabayel, the interim WBC titlist, was elevated to full world champion.

"He [Usyk] understands when he fights with Kabayel, this will be a hard fight for him," the German told Sky Sports. "This is my era."

Kabayel will now look to make the first defence of his title in September or October.

"For me it's no problem, I'll fight with everyone. You can call me. My phone is here, please call me, I'll fight with everyone," Kabayel said.

"I want competition, I will fight with the best ones. For me it's no problem. I fight everyone."

He added: "Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, when you think you have a chance to be a three-time world champion, let's do it. Kabayel will wait for you."

A former sparring partner of his, Kabayel knows Fury well. Fury, being ranked No 1 with the WBC below Kabayel, could force a fight with him at some point.

"We can make the fight but first of all I think all the fans, the British fans want to see the Anthony Joshua versus Tyson Fury fight and after that we can see who's best for the fight with me," the German said.

"First of all AJ [for Fury] and after why not? This is a big fight. We can make this also in Germany in a stadium. We can make this in the UK in a stadium. I think this is big, really big."

Itauma, only 21 years old but the rising star of the heavyweight division, could well be a future opponent for the new WBC champion, if he beats Filip Hrgovic when they clash next month in London.

"No problem. The winner of that fight versus Hrgovic, why not?" Kabayel declared.

"And also we can make a fight with Daniel [Dubois, the WBO champion] or Fabio Wardley. Anyone. For me it's no problem, I'll fight anyone.

"Send me the location, send me the date, I'm ready."

[jameswilson]

Agit Kabayel offers Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Moses Itauma the chance to fight for WBC heavyweight title

"This is my era!" Agit Kabayel reacts to becoming the WBC's new heavyweight world champion and reveals his hitlist; he wants to make his first defence of the title in September or October and offers Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Moses Itauma the chance to challenge him for the belt

Agit Kabayel is open to defending his WBC heavyweight world title against Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury or Moses Itauma.

When Oleksandr Usyk vacated his belts, Kabayel, the interim WBC titlist, was elevated to full world champion.

"He [Usyk] understands when he fights with Kabayel, this will be a hard fight for him," the German told Sky Sports. "This is my era."

Kabayel will now look to make the first defence of his title in September or October.

"For me it's no problem, I'll fight with everyone. You can call me. My phone is here, please call me, I'll fight with everyone," Kabayel said.

"I want competition, I will fight with the best ones. For me it's no problem. I fight everyone."

He added: "Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, when you think you have a chance to be a three-time world champion, let's do it. Kabayel will wait for you."

A former sparring partner of his, Kabayel knows Fury well. Fury, being ranked No 1 with the WBC below Kabayel, could force a fight with him at some point.

"We can make the fight but first of all I think all the fans, the British fans want to see the Anthony Joshua versus Tyson Fury fight and after that we can see who's best for the fight with me," the German said.

"First of all AJ [for Fury] and after why not? This is a big fight. We can make this also in Germany in a stadium. We can make this in the UK in a stadium. I think this is big, really big."

Itauma, only 21 years old but the rising star of the heavyweight division, could well be a future opponent for the new WBC champion, if he beats Filip Hrgovic when they clash next month in London.

"No problem. The winner of that fight versus Hrgovic, why not?" Kabayel declared.

"And also we can make a fight with Daniel [Dubois, the WBO champion] or Fabio Wardley. Anyone. For me it's no problem, I'll fight anyone.

"Send me the location, send me the date, I'm ready."

If they both keep winning then a fight vs Itauma seems inevitable and you'd have to say probably represents the passing of the crown to that winner from the previous AJ-Wilder-Fury-Usyk dynasty that rose from the Klitschko brothers long reign.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[deadpan]

Kabayel is good value. Fair play to him for not badmouthing Usyk.