Agit Kabayel is the new WBC heavyweight champion. The German was elevated from interim status after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the title to avoid a mandatory defense, officially capping Kabayel’s undefeated run to the top of the division.
The promotion concludes a patient but determined campaign for the belt. Kabayel first secured his position as the mandatory challenger in February 2025 when he stopped Zhilei Zhang to claim the WBC interim title. He demonstrated his readiness by staying active, dispatching Damian Knyba with a third-round knockout earlier this year while waiting for his mandatory opportunity to be enforced.
That moment arrived when the WBC formally ordered Usyk to defend the championship against Kabayel. The sanctioning body set a June 30 deadline for the two camps to reach an agreement before the fight would go to a purse bid. Instead of entering negotiations, Usyk chose to relinquish the belt. This action automatically triggered the rule that elevates the interim titleholder to full champion status.
While Kabayel did not win the title from Usyk in the ring, he earned his position through the established process. He is a legitimate champion. His undefeated 27-0 record, which includes 19 knockouts, gives him the credentials to defend the green and gold belt.
With a major world title now in his possession, Kabayel’s status has fundamentally changed. He is no longer the hunter but the hunted, instantly becoming a primary target for every other top-ranked heavyweight contender seeking a championship opportunity. Usyk’s decision to vacate three of his titles to pursue a specific final fight has fractured the divisional hierarchy, creating a new landscape where champions like Kabayel will define the next era.
