Oleksandr Usyk hints he could abandon Tyson Fury trilogy to fight dangerous No.1 contender

Oleksandr Usyk has now reopened the door to a fight with Agit Kabayel instead of a trilogy with Tyson Fury.

Usyk is set to return in a lucrative fight with kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven in May, in what will be a defence of just his WBC title.

The unified champion is on the final knockings of his stellar career and has listed the fight with the Dutchman as part of a three-fight plan.

He has suggested he will target the winner of Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley’s title clash afterwards, before a potential third meeting with Fury.

It came under fire from WBC interim champion Kabayel, who has waited patiently and believes he is now owed his shot.

And Usyk has now suggested that he could take on the undefeated German leading contender, but has lashed back at claims he will be forced to take the fight.

He told the Daily Mail: “Maybe I will fight Kabayel – maybe I don’t face Tyson Fury for a third time and I fight Kabayel instead.

“I only say my plan but that is not set in stone. I understand the Agit fans are saying you must fight him, you must fight him. But I don’t have to fight him.

“I must live my life, I must look after my team, my children. As for fighting, I just work hard and my opponents work hard.

“Look, maybe it’s possible I fight Agit. All I can say is he’s a great fighter and he’s very smart.”

Kabayel is deemed by many as the biggest active remaining threat to Usyk’s perfect record since entering the blue-riband division.

But to Usyk, he may not provide the commercial opportunity and payday that a showdown with some of the division’s higher profiles command.

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Although a bout with the feared contender is likely to get the juices flowing of boxing fans.

Usyk’s plan to be scuppered by Kabayel order

Although suggesting he would be open to switching Kabayel in for Fury in his fight plan, the German’s interest is likely to be made official next.

As soon as Usyk faces Verhoeven, he is likely to be ordered to face Kabayel for the WBC belt later in 2026.

It will put him to the front of the queue and force him to vacate if he wants to face the winner of Dubois’ clash with Wardley.

Promoter Frank Warren explained to talkSPORT: “If he doesn’t do it, he has to vacate the title or he’ll be stripped.

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“I love watching him fight. But the titles have obligations.

“Champions can’t just hold belts and not defend them. They have obligations.

“These are the fights fans want to see. Number one fighting number two. The best fighting the best.”