Anthony Joshua desires Usyk to face one man earlier than Agit Kabayel: “That might be superb”

Final month, Oleksandr Usyk got here shockingly near shedding his heavyweight titles and undefeated report in opposition to Rico Verhoeven, in a battle which has raised questions as to what the 39-year-old has left.

For the Ukrainian, Agit Kabayel appears to be his subsequent menace, however stablemate Anthony Joshua believes that there’s one other man that Usyk ought to face as an alternative.

Kabayel has sat patiently, ready for his shot at Usyk and the chance to finish Germany’s 94-year watch for a full heavyweight world champion, since Max Schmeling misplaced his title to Jack Sharkey in 1932 through a questionable split-decision. 

The 33-year-old has held the WBC Interim title since he knocked out Zhilei Zhang in February 2025 – defending it as soon as in opposition to Damian Knyba earlier this 12 months – and plenty of followers see him as a possible Achilles’ heel to Usyk’s generational run, as a result of his highly effective physique blows.

But, regardless of being promised a world title problem in September, the controversy that surrounded Usyk’s win over Verhoeven might see that bid pushed again. Talking to Ring Magazine, Joshua admitted that he would quite see a rematch with Verhoeven than a showdown between Usyk and Kabayel.

“They’re each phenomenal choices, aren’t they? As a battle fan, I need to see Rico vs. Usyk once more.

“Simply that rematch, you know the way huge rematches are; they have a storyline, they have historical past, Egypt, the stoppage, Usyk was apparently shedding on the scorecards, there may be that backstory. So, it’s like we’re already constructing on foundations which have already been cemented.

“Agit Kabayel and Usyk continues to be a large battle, I like the way in which that Agit is asking him out, however as I mentioned, from a pure fan viewpoint, I believe the rematch would simply be superb.”

Kabayel’s promoter, Boxing/information/12183/13547509/oleksandr-usyk-frank-warren-will-not-stand-for-rico-verhoeven-rematch-over-agit-kabayel-heavyweight-title-clash” goal=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Frank Warren, has insisted that he is not going to permit Verhoeven to intervene and disrupt his fighter’s deliberate challenged for the heavyweight throne. Though, Usyk might choose to vacate the WBC title, to be able to retain full management of opponent choice forward of his deliberate 2027 retirement.