What would you do if you were him - clearly no one wants to fight him he doesn't even get a mention by any of the current top HWs. Would you go full haye/briggs and start stalking Usyk following him everywhere, go full trump and same outlandish sutff on social media ? Would you forget about usyk and maybe try to fight Dubois/Wardley winner ?
Kabayel's mistake is that he's waiting for a title fight, and that could take who knows how long. You have to fight, even if the fight is risky, but that's boxing and if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best...
After Chisora he's basically been once a year. He has a German following from what I've heard on podcasts etc. but it's pretty hard to catch casual sports fans if you're providing your sport with something once every year. Ex champions who have been through multiple wars is one thing, or someone like Usyk who has fought the best everywhere coming into the pros with gold medals behind him. At late 30s is ok. Kabayel should be going after Fury if he wins next week - saying let's get it on for a chance at Usyk or Wardley/Dubois. Let's go Champ!
Kabayel defended his title 3 months ago. Kabayel fights every 9 months give or take. If the WBC won't strip Usyk and promote him thats out of his control. That should happen at the next fight. I think Usyk has no intention of fighting Kabayel. Usyk lied to the WBO about fighting their champion next then didn't. Maybe that promise was made with the belief Parker would beat Wardley. Here Usyk has never shown any interest. Hes explicitly said he has 3 fights left and every time hes interviewed he brings up rematches, guys in their 40s kickboxers or MMA fighters. Hes not Tyson Fury who will loudly proclaim he'll never fight someone but hes not exactly hiding his intent here. What can Kabayel really do to change this? Saying crazy things doesn't sell PPV anymore people are immune to that. Look at the UFCs numbers which people have to sneak around to find and leak because the UFC is so embarrassed. The only thing that works is name recognition and that takes time.
said it in other threads but the best possible move right now for him is to fight wilder. big name that gets usyks attention (since usyk wanted to fight wilder originally), gets the causals attention, will prove how big of a draw kabayel is if they fight in germany and on paper its a easy touch for kabayel he shouldnt worry too much on taking. dangling a chance for the winner to take on usyk might be the risk Wilder is willing to take.
Kabayel does not deserve the championship. Despite being fairly young, he has been fighting only once a year for years, and the opponents he has picked have been below mediocre. If Kabayel truly sees himself as championship material, he should challenge Itauma right away.
You’ve got that the wrong way around. Kabayel is the better credentialed fighter. It’s not on him to “challenge” Itauma. It’s on Itauma to challenge Kabayel.
He SHOULD be going for a competitive fight that proves something... In reality, and following his record, though - your logic makes a lot of sense for why he might well do this.
Whilst true... Kabayel has plenty to prove - it's just that Itauma has even more left to prove than Kabayel does. Kabayel isn't in a position where he should be allowed to fight another can without major criticism - but fighting Itauma isn't really necessary... If he beats him easily, it could easily be dismissed as a hype win, especially if Itauma doesn't go on to prove more. Besides, let's be honest, neither of their teams are going to want to make that one. A solid, if uninspiring, fight is pretty much the best we can hope for - there are guys that would go into Kabayel's top 3 yet would be fairly safe bets for him to beat... Guys like Hrgovic, Gassiev, etc. I wouldn't be the slightest bit surprised if he picks from a tier or two below that, though.
Yeah of course i agree. as a fan Id say chuck him in with the winner of dubois/wardley but as far as the best move for his career to get that usyk fight, wilders the best shout right now.
The WBC has announced that after his May fight with Verhoeven Usyk will defend his title against Kabayel (the WBC interim champion). So, if the WBC holds true to its wording, Kabayel will either fight for the WBC world title (against Usyk or someone else, I think it will be someone else) or, from interim champio he will be elevated to WBC world champion.
Kabayel is sitting waiting for a Title shot whilst Usyk decides what he’s doing,he would be mad to do a Parker and take a fight whilst waiting for the Title shot and get beat,losing Millions in the process ! If I was Kabayel I would just wait for Usyk to be stripped. I honestly thought Usyk was different when he cleaned up the belts and thought he would clear out the mandatory’s to make up for his lack of fights and opponents at Heavyweight and then retire. But no he’s fighting a cross over fight whilst holding all the Belts and Titles bar one !
