Former cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellew has urged Oleksandr Usyk to prioritize a rematch with Rico Verhoeven, arguing the kickboxing star deserves the opportunity more than the officially mandated challenger. The 39-year-old Ukrainian champion, who holds the WBC, WBA, and IBF heavyweight titles, is approaching the end of his career with only two fights reportedly remaining on his schedule.
The call for a rematch follows a grueling encounter last month where Oleksandr Usyk narrowly maintained his 25-fight undefeated record. Rico Verhoeven, who entered the ring with only one professional boxing match to his name, pushed the champion to the brink. Usyk eventually secured a questionable 11th-round stoppage, but the narrowness of the victory has sparked intense debate within the boxing community.
And yet, the World Boxing Council (WBC) has already moved to enforce its rankings. Just over a week ago, the governing body ordered Oleksandr Usyk to face mandatory challenger Agit Kabayel before the end of the 2026 calendar year. This ultimatum puts the champion in a difficult position as he balances his mandatory obligations against the desire to settle the controversy surrounding his last performance.
Tony Bellew backs Rico Verhoeven for immediate rematch
In a recent interview with Fightlens, Tony Bellew admitted that while Agit Kabayel is a worthy contender who has waited his turn, the Rico Verhoeven situation is unique. “If I am being totally honest, I believe that Rico Verhoeven deserves a rematch,” Bellew stated. He noted that the Ukrainian “can’t get away” from the fact that he was pushed harder than ever before.
Tony Bellew, who was knocked out by Oleksandr Usyk in 2018, remains a keen observer of his former rival. He believes the champion was not at his physical best during the last outing. Even as Usyk raises brain health concerns regarding high-impact bouts, he continues to face heavyweight opponents who outweigh him significantly.
The former champion observed Usyk on the morning of the Verhoeven fight and noted he looked unusually heavy. “I seen him Saturday morning, I gave him a hug and just thought, ‘ooh, you are solid, like you are heavy and you are a proper heavyweight’,” Bellew told Fightlens. He suggested this extra weight might have hampered Usyk’s signature high work rate during the match.
The mandatory hurdle of Agit Kabayel
The primary obstacle to a rematch is the prompt intervention of the WBC. By ordering the Agit Kabayel fight, the council has effectively set a deadline for the champion. If Oleksandr Usyk chooses to ignore the mandatory challenger, he risks being stripped of the “green and gold” belt, which would end his reign as a unified titleholder.
Agit Kabayel has built an impressive resume to earn his status as the mandatory challenger. However, he lacks the immediate narrative appeal of a Verhoeven comeback. This creates a conflict between the sport’s formal structures and the public’s desire for a definitive conclusion to the Verhoeven rivalry.
Some fans are already looking further ahead to potential superfights, such as the Fury-Joshua bout penciled in for late 2026.
But the champion finds himself at a crossroads. He previously announced plans to retire after three more fights to open a boxing academy in Ukraine. After the struggle against Rico Verhoeven, that timeline has been squeezed to just two remaining appearances. Every choice he makes now will define the final chapter of a career that has spanned two weight divisions.
Analysis of the champion’s physical performance
Tony Bellew was careful not to blame the champion’s age for the lackluster performance against the kickboxing specialist. Instead, he praised the work of Peter Fury, who coached Rico Verhoeven for the bout. He noted that factors like the temperature and the general surroundings could have influenced the champion’s energy levels throughout the 11 rounds.
Rico Verhoeven has already seen his stock rise significantly within the boxing world despite the loss. He has secured top 15 rankings with both the WBC and WBA following his performance. While Verhoeven previously commented on the historic nature of his opportunities, his focus has now shifted to maintaining his status as a legitimate heavyweight boxer.
This rise in the rankings provides some justification for Tony Bellew’s argument. If Rico Verhoeven is a top-ranked contender, a rematch is more than just a lucrative spectacle; it becomes a relevant sporting event. For Oleksandr Usyk, the challenge is deciding whether a more conclusive victory is worth the risk of delaying his mandatory duties.
What happens next for Oleksandr Usyk
With the 2026 calendar moving forward, the window for negotiations is tightening. If the champion decides to move toward Agit Kabayel, he satisfies the sanctioning bodies but leaves the Verhoeven questions unanswered. On the other hand, pursuing the rematch could lead to a legal tug-of-war over his world titles.
The heavyweight division remains as volatile as ever, and the physical toll on Oleksandr Usyk is becoming a central theme. Whether his final two fights include a return match with Rico Verhoeven or a mandatory defense against Agit Kabayel, the boxing world is watching the closing acts of a modern legend.
