The WBC has put Usyk in a tough spot: a fight against Kabayel or losing his title

The World Boxing Council (WBC) has set a clear deadline for heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk. If the Ukrainian does not make a mandatory title defense against Agit Kabayel, he will be required to vacate the belt.

According to Boxing Scene, the deadline to arrange the bout expires on June 30. If the parties fail to reach an agreement on the date, venue, and terms of the fight, the WBC will send the bout to a purse bid.

This means Usyk faces a difficult decision. He can decline the fight with Kabayel, but in that case he will automatically lose the WBC championship belt. The Ukrainian currently holds the WBA, IBF, WBO, and WBC titles, remaining the undisputed world champion.

Context of the situation

Agit Kabayel is the mandatory WBC challenger. The German boxer of Turkish descent has been waiting for an opportunity to fight for the belt for a long time. For Usyk, however, this bout has not been among his top priorities, as he had been considering options involving Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and other elite heavyweights.

However, WBC rules are quite strict: a champion must make a mandatory defense against the designated challenger or lose the title.

So far, neither side has officially commented on the deadline. The next two weeks will be crucial for the future of the WBC heavyweight championship belt.