After reports stated the green and gold belt can be at stake in Egypt, Sulaiman told Sports Illustrated that there was no formal discussion about sanctioning the fight as a title defense.
“The WBC fully supports this cross-over fight,” Sulaiman said.
“We’ll create an unbelievable belt featuring the weather of the Pyramids of Egypt.
“At this moment, there has not been a discussion of a request to be a title defense and only a special event involving the WBC heavyweight champion.”
In plain terms, the WBC is ready to support the event and design a brand new belt. What stays unclear is whether or not its actual heavyweight title might be defended.
Agit Kabayel holds the WBC interim heavyweight belt. That’s presupposed to mean he’s next, not that he gets a pleasant photo and a polite round of applause. The interim title exists to lock within the mandatory spot. Kabayel earned it the old-fashioned way, by beating ranked heavyweights under WBC sanction. He didn’t pick it up for showing up at a press conference or switching sports for the evening.
If the Usyk bout is treated as a special event, the WBC sidesteps the query of why an unranked opponent is placed ahead of its interim champion. Whether it is approved as a defense, then Kabayel’s mandatory status should activate immediately after.
Usyk, 22-0, addressed Verhoeven’s credentials.
“I really respect individuals who reach the very top of their sport. Rico is certainly one of them, a robust athlete and an ideal champion. But that is boxing , a distinct game, with its own rules and its own kings.”
That’s the way it is presupposed to work. Sanctioning bodies write rules, rankings establish order, and interim titles discover the following man in line. At the very least that’s the idea printed on the paperwork.
Kabayel has handled his end. He’s unbeaten. He owns the interim belt. Under WBC guidelines, that places him within the mandatory position.
The WBC now has to make a decision whether its heavyweight title follows its own rating structure or whether event considerations take priority. If interim status means anything, Kabayel is next.
If the WBC doesn’t implement Kabayel’s mandatory position, the interim belt becomes meaningless and the organization loses what credibility it claims to guard, if it had much left to start with. You can’t discuss structure, collect sanctioning fees, after which ignore your personal rankings when a crossover event looks more profitable.