Oleksandr Usyk could be challenged by Agit Kabayel, Murat Gassiev or Moses Itauma if he beats Rico Verhoeven | Debate News

Boxers are taught to never ignore opponents, but with Oleksandr Usyk widely expected to dispatch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven on Saturday, the focus is on what comes next for the Ukrainian.

Usyk’s voluntary defense against the Dutch heavyweight kickboxing champion under the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt has divided opinion in the boxing world over its credibility, but there is consensus on one thing: the predictable result.

Despite the biggest upset in boxing history, come Saturday night Usyk’s next steps look set, as long as the WBC, WBA and IBF world heavyweight champion is not willing to relinquish his titles.

A mandatory defense against Agit Kabayel has been ordered by the WBC. Failure to fight against unbeaten Germany will result in usyk being stripped of his title.

Get through that, and another defense – this time of his WBA belt – will come against Russia’s Murat Gassiev, whom Usyk defeated at cruiserweight in 2018, and is currently ranked as the number one contender.

“Usyk has arranged all these needs now,” explained promoter Eddie Hearn.

“Many feel that Agit Kabayel is a more dangerous fight. I’m not so sure, but I think he has signs of being very competitive with Usyk. That’s a big arena fight in Germany.

“You got Richard Torrez against Frank Sanchez in the last game on Saturday. That will be another obligation that will be forced on him.”

Hearn also suggested that British heavyweights Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois – all of whom have lost twice to Usyk – could accept a shot at the king of the division like Moses Itauma, but added that the Ukrainian is the sole arbiter of his future.

“I’d dare say, you’ve got three two-time British heavyweights. I’m sure all of them, even AJ, would love another crack at the whip,” added Hearn.

“Then you have Moses [Itauma] comes with. He can be a liability at times.

“What Syk has shown is that he will do what he wants to do, and he will do what he wants to do with the belts.

“I think he’s one of those guys, one of the few people, who has a history of not worrying about belts.”

‘How can Usyk call the time?!’

Whatever comes next for Usyk, regardless of how Verhoeven’s fight goes, it should never be retirement when it comes to Hearn.

“We have a habit in this game of calling time on people’s jobs whenever we want, not whenever they want,” he added.

“I would like to see Usyk retire undefeated. To go through the cruiserweight division without a fight, to go through the heavyweight division without a fight – that would be an amazing achievement and a way to bow out.

“But when you see Usyk training up close in the gym, it’s a sight to behold. He looks big. You can tell he’s downsized for the future.

“If you see his desire and you see him not going back as a fighter, how can you call time if he still wants to do it?

“These guys – boxing isn’t all they know, it’s most of what they know. They’ve had hundreds of novice fights. It’s their life.

“I think he’s the type of guy that, when he loses that will to fight, we won’t see him – he’ll be gone.”