WBC draws a line

“After his next fight, Alexander Usyk must fight (interim champion) Ajit Kabayel for the WBC heavyweight title or face being stripped of the belt. Next he must fight the interim champion,” Suleiman told Chris Mannix YouTube channel.

In theory, it creates a fork in the road. In practice, Usyk has shown how he handles these situations.

On July 19, 2025, Usyk defeated Daniel Dubois in five rounds to become the undisputed heavyweight champion. After that, Usyk vacated the WBO gold belt when he was ordered to fight interim champion Fabio Wadley. He chose autonomy. Department adjustments.

Usyk now holds the WBA, WBC and IBF titles. The WBC allowed a voluntary plea as Cabayel is scheduled to fight in January. Thereafter, the order will become mandatory. Assume that the belt creates pressure. Usyk’s recent history suggests otherwise.

Cabayel has an undefeated record of 27-0 and has earned his spot through positive performances. He added suspensions to secure his temporary spot and remain visible in a division filled with viable contenders. He’s compact, physical, builds his body and keeps moving forward. This style produces difficult rounds, even for elite movers.

There are real athletic risks with such an opponent at 39 years old. It doesn’t have the commercial appeal of rising names like Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury or Moses Itama. These fights brought venue fees, pay-per-view attention and a global market. They justified the scale.

Kabayel Defense met the requirements. It won’t significantly change the heavyweight conversation. For a champion who has finished the game uncontested, that distinction is important.

The undisputed chase needs to be followed. Every belt must be defended and every order respected. He needed that at that stage of his career.

When the WBO later ordered him to fight Wadley, Usyk walked away. The market remains stable. His status has not changed. This tells its own story.

Where is the leverage?

Today, the heavyweight elite operates on financial security and an established legacy. Belts no longer define their value in the same way. If Kabayel becomes the next fight, it will be because Usyk wants it. If a greater opportunity arises, recent history suggests the belt will become a flexible component again.

The WBC has issued a directive. It’s up to the champion to have real power. Usyk has shown he’s willing to make his own decisions.