Usyk looks likely to vacate the WBC belt
Mandatory bout with Kabayel looks unlikely
The Usyk vs. Verhoeven fight could be postponed
After relinquishing his WBO and IBF titles to give younger fighters the opportunity to achieve greatness, Usyk is no longer considered the undisputed champion. Now, despite an upcoming defense against Verhoeven, the WBC title may also be vacated before 2027.
Usyk finds himself in a tough position because of the WBC’s timelines. The fight with Verhoeven is considered a voluntary defense, and the WBC also wants to make a mandatory defense against the interim champion, Agit Kabayel. With bigger potential fights, larger payouts, and the possibility of retirement looming, could we see Usyk vacate before Kabayel gets his chance?
For the casual fan, it may seem strange that one of boxing’s all-time greats would consider forfeiting another belt so soon after putting it all on the line against Verhoeven. However, due to WBC time limits, Usyk is expected to make a mandatory defense against a challenger, as selected by the organization. This rule has now created one of the most exciting sports prediction markets at Kalshi.
First, we have to consider that Usyk has a voluntary WBC title defense against Verhoeven. Glory fans will be well aware of Verhoeven’s dominance, power, and overall ability, but boxing fans can’t see this being enough to pry the WBC title out of the hands of one of the boxing greats. In fact, although considered a sanctioned bout, Verhoeven fails to appear as an option to hold the WBC title ahead of 2027 at all.
If this were solely on technical ability, then the chance of Usyk remaining as Heavyweight Champion would be considerably higher than the 68% we see at the time of writing this review. However, as touched upon, timing could be a deciding factor.
With the WBC’s mandatory title defense requested, the clock is ticking for Usyk. We have already seen that the WBO and IBF titles have been vacated to allow “younger fighters” to contend, leading to speculation that retirement could be in mind.
Not to discredit Kabayel, but it wouldn’t be a high-profile fight for Usyk, either. We have seen Fury, Joshua, and now a crossover from Verhoeven. Although respected and worthy of his interim status, Kabayel simply wouldn’t have the same benefit to Usyk as many other fighters.
Finally, you have to consider the demands of the camp. Training camps can last between 8 and 16 weeks, taking time away from family and placing physical demands on boxers. To go back-to-back, especially at this stage in Usyk’s career, would seem unwise. Of course, this all depends on how much Verhoeven takes out of him when they clash on May 23rd.
With a demanding defense against Verhoeven already on the cards, many Kalshi prediction market traders suspect that Usyk will vacate the title before 2027. Should Usyk face off against Kabayel, the chances appear to be fully in favor of The Cat.
| Vacant/Boxer | Chance | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| The title is vacant | 81% | $0.80 | $0.98 |
| Oleksander Usyk | 68% | $0.96 | $0.92 |
| Agit Kabayel | 1% | $0.89 | $0.99 |
Unless you are in Usyk’s camp, it is very difficult to judge the best point to enter this sports prediction market from Kalshi. That said, you can take a few things into consideration before trading.
This is a tough one to call, and there are many underlying factors that could influence things. Usyk, however, if you’ll excuse the pun, has all the power in his hands.
A voluntary title defense against Verhoeven is planned, but could be moved from Egypt due to current conditions. This could open the doors to a later scheduled fight, moving a mandatory bout with Kabayel closer. Alternatively, Usyk may wait until after the Verhoeven fight to decide. This decision could be down to how the fight goes, the purse made available from a Kabayel fight, or whether he decides to call it a day. Use our links to go to Kalshi and make your predictions today.
Loading …
