Oleksandr Usyk’s controversial victory over Rico Verhoeven has created exactly the sort of debate boxing fans were always going to have.
Some people believe the referee stopped the fight too early. Others think Verhoeven was taking too much punishment and the stoppage was justified.
What has surprised many fans, though, is just how strongly Frank Warren has reacted to suggestions of an immediate rematch.
The Hall of Fame promoter has made it very clear that he believes Agit Kabayel should be next in line for a world title shot, and he has publicly opposed any move that could see Usyk and Verhoeven run it back before Kabayel gets his opportunity.
The question is whether Warren is completely right, or whether some people are overlooking how boxing has always worked.
This Is Really About Agit Kabayel
Let’s be honest.
Frank Warren’s issue isn’t really Rico Verhoeven.
His issue is the fact that an Agit Kabayel mandatory challenger position could potentially be pushed back again.
Kabayel has done everything asked of him.
He has worked his way through the rankings, taken risks and earned his position as the WBC mandatory challenger.
As explained in this article on mandatory challengers:
The entire point of having a mandatory challenger system is to ensure deserving contenders eventually receive their title opportunities.
If champions could simply pick whichever fights generated the most money forever, rankings would become almost meaningless.
That’s the core of Warren’s argument.
And to be fair, it’s a valid one.
But Boxing Has Always Allowed For Exceptions
Where I think some of the discussion has become slightly exaggerated is the idea that a rematch would somehow be unprecedented.
It wouldn’t.
Boxing has always made room for immediate rematches when a fight generates controversy.
You only have to look at major fights throughout history to see examples.
The reality is that whenever a champion takes on a challenger, there is always a possibility that a rematch might be demanded afterwards.
Especially if the ending creates debate.
That’s not a new development.
That’s simply boxing.
The first fight between Usyk and Verhoeven generated huge discussion. Whether you agreed with the stoppage or not, people were talking about it immediately after the final bell.
When that happens, promoters, broadcasters and sanctioning bodies inevitably start looking at the commercial possibilities.
The Key Question Is How Long Kabayel Waits
This is where the debate should really be focused.
Not whether a rematch can happen.
Not whether Warren is right to be angry.
The real issue is how long an Agit Kabayel mandatory challenger position gets delayed.
Because there is a massive difference between a short delay and a career-defining wait.
If a step-aside agreement can be negotiated and Kabayel receives guarantees about his eventual title opportunity, boxing has seen similar situations countless times before.
According to reporting from publications such as BoxingScene and The Ring Magazine, step-aside deals have been part of the sport for decades.
They’re not ideal.
But they’re hardly unusual.
The problem comes if the delay becomes excessive.
Nobody Wants Another Dillian Whyte Situation
This is probably where many fans sympathise with Frank Warren.
Nobody wants to see another situation similar to what happened with Dillian Whyte.
For years, Whyte held mandatory positions and remained near the front of the queue without actually receiving the title opportunity many believed he had earned.
You can read more about that situation here:
That sort of delay damages confidence in the entire system.
Fans start asking what the point of rankings are.
Fighters start wondering why they’re risking their careers climbing the ladder.
Promoters start questioning the value of mandatory status altogether.
If Kabayel were being asked to wait years, Warren’s anger would be completely understandable.
In fact, most boxing fans would probably agree with him.
Frank Warren Knows Exactly How Boxing Works
This is the part I think gets forgotten.
Frank Warren has been promoting boxing for decades.
He understands better than almost anybody how these situations develop.
He knows controversial fights often lead to rematches.
He knows step-aside deals happen.
He knows sanctioning bodies sometimes make exceptions.
That doesn’t mean he has to like it.
His job is to protect his fighter’s interests.
If Kabayel is next in line, Warren is always going to push for Kabayel to get his shot as quickly as possible.
That’s exactly what you’d expect a promoter to do.
The stronger his public position, the more pressure he puts on everyone involved.
From that perspective, his comments make perfect sense.
The Real Test Comes Next
At the moment, we’re still talking about possibilities.
A lot of fans are reacting as though Kabayel has already been pushed aside indefinitely.
That hasn’t happened.
The real test will come if negotiations move forward.
If a rematch is approved but Kabayel receives a fair step-aside agreement and a guaranteed title shot afterwards, many people will probably accept it.
If his opportunity keeps getting delayed again and again, then Frank Warren’s concerns will look increasingly justified.
That distinction matters.
Because one is normal boxing politics.
The other is a mandatory challenger being left in limbo.
Final Bell
Frank Warren absolutely has a point when he defends the Agit Kabayel mandatory challenger position.
Mandatory challengers exist for a reason, and boxing loses credibility when deserving contenders never get their opportunities.
At the same time, the possibility of a Usyk vs Verhoeven rematch shouldn’t shock anyone. Controversial fights have led to immediate rematches throughout boxing history, and step-aside agreements have been part of the sport for decades.
The important thing isn’t whether a rematch happens.
It’s whether Agit Kabayel eventually gets the title shot he has earned.
If the delay is measured in months, boxing will probably move on.
If it’s measured in years, Frank Warren may end up looking like the only person who saw the problem coming.
Join The Conversation
Do you agree with Frank Warren’s stance, or would you be happy to see Usyk and Verhoeven meet again before Kabayel gets his chance?
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