The World Boxing Council (WBC) officially recognized Agit Kabayel as the new WBC Heavyweight World Champion on Saturday, June 27, 2026, following Oleksandr Usyk’s decision to vacate his titles. Kabayel, who previously held the interim belt, was elevated to full champion status after Usyk relinquished the WBC, WBA, and IBF championships on June 26. The shift occurred after a Zoom conference call involving WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman, board members, and Team Kabayel, represented by Queensberry CEO George Warren and manager Spencer Brown.
Kabayel makes history as the first German heavyweight world champion since Max Schmeling held the honor in 1932. Born in Leverkusen and of Kurdish descent, he is also the first Kurdish fighter to ever hold a heavyweight world title. The 33-year-old remains undefeated with a professional record of 27-0, including 19 knockouts. His elevation brings to an end the recent undisputed reign of Oleksandr Usyk, who cited a desire for a “last dance” free from the mandatory defense restrictions of governing bodies.
The WBC had previously ordered Usyk to defend his title against Kabayel, setting a negotiation deadline of June 30. By vacating the belt, Usyk bypassed potential purse bids and allowed the sanctioning body to promote its interim champion. Kabayel had been the mandatory challenger since February 2025, when he stopped Zhilei Zhang in the sixth round of their bout in Saudi Arabia to secure the interim crown.
The championship journey of Agit Kabayel
Kabayel’s rise to the top of the heavyweight division has been characterized by consistent performances against top-tier opposition. He first entered the WBC world rankings in May 2017 at No. 30 after winning the European Boxing Union (EBU) title against Herve Hubeaux. His status as an elite contender was later solidified with a victory over veteran Derek Chisora.
His international breakthrough arrived in December 2023 at the “Day of Reckoning” event in Riyadh. Kabayel stopped the previously undefeated Arslanbek Makhmudov in four rounds, a performance that lifted him to No. 8 in the WBC rankings. He followed this with a seventh-round knockout of the undefeated Frank Sanchez in May 2024, capturing the WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Championship and cementing his position as the primary challenger.
Most recently, Kabayel defended his interim status in January with a victory over Damian Knyba. While many heavyweights have dealt with boxing match delayed by contract talks in recent years, Kabayel’s activity remained steady, allowing him to stay sharp for this transition. “Unbelievable,” Kabayel shared via Instagram. “I will do everything I can to hold this belt for a long time and add even more titles to my collection.”
Implications of Oleksandr Usyk’s departure
Oleksandr Usyk leaves the heavyweight championship scene after a dominant run that included two victories over Anthony Joshua and the historic unification victory over Tyson Fury. His final professional outing was an 11-round victory over former kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven in May 2026. That match, while successful for Usyk, ended with a controversial stoppage.
Usyk’s decision to vacate his titles immediately triggers a scramble for the remaining belts. In the IBF, Frank Sanchez is expected to compete for the vacant strap following his recent upset win over Richard Torrez Jr. Meanwhile, the WBA picture involves regular champion Murat Gassiev, who is scheduled for a defense against Tony Yoka on July 11.
The landscape is shifting toward a new generation of contenders as the “undisputed era” fragmentizes back into multiple champions. For fans who followed the Usyk-Verhoeven bout details earlier this year, the sudden vacancy marks a hard reset for the division. Usyk still retains The Ring Magazine championship, but the three primary sanctioning body belts are now in play for other heavyweights.
Future matchups in the heavyweight division
With Kabayel installed as the WBC champion, the focus turns to his first mandatory or voluntary defense. The division possesses several high-stakes possibilities that could shape the championship picture through the remainder of 2026. A possible eliminator between rising prospect Moses Itauma and veteran Filip Hrgovic is one such matchup that could determine the next challenger for Kabayel’s green and gold belt.
While the major names in the division remain active, the path to the gold now goes through Germany. Future activities regarding the heavyweight rankings and mandatory requirements are expected to be announced by the WBC in the coming weeks. For now, the German and Kurdish boxing communities celebrate a long-awaited milestone.
Kabayel enters his reign with one of the most complete championship resumes in the sport, having previously held the WBC Mediterranean, EBU European Union, and NABF heavyweight titles. com/andy-ruiz-jr-update-on-ring-return-corrected/”>Andy Ruiz Jr. reportedly nearing comeback aim to re-enter the title conversation, they will find a disciplined and technical champion in Kabayel waiting at the top.
The WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman described Kabayel’s rise as a “true example of dedication and merit,” signaling strong institutional support for the new titleholder.
