Frank Warren has warned Oleksandr Usyk he “would not stand” for the Ukrainian entertaining the prospect of a rematch with Rico Verhoeven as a substitute of combating Agit Kabayel.
Usyk survived an almighty scare stopping Verhoeven within the ultimate second of spherical 11 simply because the Dutch kickboxer threatened to drag off one in every of boxing’s biggest upsets in Giza.
The WBC heavyweight world champion had rematch talks ignited when promoter Turki Alalshikh took the stage and mentioned Verhoeven’s efficiency had shifted the dialog.
Kabayel is the WBC obligatory challenger for Usyk and dangers being stripped of his belt ought to he select to face a distinct opponent – a call that Queensberry Promotions chief Warren strongly advises the title holder towards taking.
“[Kabayel] has beaten everybody he’s put in front of him, and he’s a real, real class act, a lovely guy, and he can fight,” Warren informed Sky Sports activities. “He deserves to be in, within the primary spot, and he is been there for some time.
“They’re speaking about perhaps doing a rematch with Usyk and Rico [Verhoeven], we’re not going to face for that.
“Usyk’s been there lengthy sufficient, and he desires his second, and that is what we’ll be pushing for with WBC, and hopefully get it over the road and do that very same time within the autumn.
Agit Kabayel celebrates retaining the WBC interim world heavyweight title belt
“If he doesn’t take it, he’ll have to vacate it, or be stripped, it’s as simple as that.
“You are a champion, you defend the belts, that is what you are there for, when you do not defend them, then you have to give them up and let different individuals have a chance to construct their title.
Warren: Verhoeven shocked everyone
Oleksandr Usyk dangers shedding his title belts ought to he select a distinct challenger
Regardless of Warren’s desire of opponent, the promoter was greater than complimentary of Verhoeven, who wowed audiences internationally by operating the undefeated Uysk shut in solely his second each skilled bout.
“I thought it’d be fairly a routine type of job for Usyk, but that’s not how it turned out,” Warren mentioned.
“Old Rico, he showed a lot of heart, a lot of desire and he showed some skills and he was very aggressive in his movements, and the way he came forward.
“For me, [Verhoeven] was profitable the battle. I did not perceive the scoring. I genuinely thought that he was in entrance by a couple of rounds.
Oleksandr Usyk stops Rico Verhoeven within the eleventh spherical of their WBC heavyweight title match in Egypt
“I do feel the referee could have let it go on. Having said that, the referee is not a timekeeper. That’s not his job. It’s when he feels it’s appropriate to stop a fight. That’s what he has to do.
“However I do really feel he may have let it go on, contemplating the place they’d bought to within the eleventh spherical, however he was near the motion. That was his resolution, and it turned out to be a really, very thrilling battle and an enormous shock.”
Watch Chris Billam-Smith vs Ryan Rozicki within the Zuffa Boxing present in Bournemouth in June 6, stay on Sky Sports activities.
