Agit Kabayel promoted to WBC heavyweight champion after Usyk vacates

Agit Kabayel has been elevated to full WBC heavyweight champion after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the belt rather than defend against him.

Usyk was ordered to make a mandatory defense against the 33-year-old Kabayel, according to Bad Left Hook, with the two sides facing a June 30 deadline to agree terms before the fight went to purse bids. The Ukrainian opted instead to relinquish all three of his heavyweight titles, reportedly to avoid clogging the division as he approaches retirement.

Kabayel's path to the full title

Kabayel won the WBC interim strap with a decision over Zhilei Zhang in February 2025 and defended it against Damian Knyba in Germany this past January. The unbeaten German now carries a 27-0 record with 19 knockouts and the full leverage of being recognized champion.

His former training partner Tyson Fury has mentioned Kabayel as a potential opponent if he were promoted to champion status. That possibility adds another layer of uncertainty to the often-discussed but never finalized Fury-Anthony Joshua fight, which insiders continue to describe as a done deal despite repeated soft warnings that the match remains far from signed.

Reported via:

• Bad Left Hook — Agit Kabayel promoted to WBC champion after Usyk vacates