Boxing
Voluntary, mandatory, unification: What could Kabayel's champion options be?
Zayas vs. Ennis: Watch only on DAZN PPV - Saturday
Agit Kabayel has played the waiting game for more than a year now - but one way or another, he can see light at the end of the tunnel.
The German put himself in prime position for a crack at the WBC heavyweight title in February 2025 when he claimed the interim strap.
That sixth-round stoppage against Zhilei Zhang, after similar wins over Arslanbek Makhmudov and Frank Sanchez, confirmed his skills.
But with Oleksandr Usyk pursuing unification opportunities and then crossover fights, it has been a frustrating wait for Kabayel's big shot.
Sparks fly as Zayas and Ennis meet
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It appears the wind is changing. Either the star will face the Ukrainian next - or the latter will depart his belt, leaving him to be elevated.
If that latter option happens though, what comes next for Kabayel as champion-elect? DAZN News mulls the star's pending options.
A voluntary defence to start
Ultimately, this will likely be the most desirable outcome for Kabayel and his team - the chance to pick and choose his first title bout.
The WBC will likely accept any top-ranked candidate on their current list, which could allow for the star to opt for a lower-risk choice.
Italy's Guido Vianello, Uzbekistan's Bakhodir Jalolov and the heft of Martin Bakole are all options that management may like to select.
Of course, Kabayel could wish to test his mettle against far tougher fish, to truly underline his credentials as the new king on the block.
The winner of Filip Hrgovic and Moses Itauma's August bout would appear to be a leading choice, with both men impressively ranked.
A mandatory order from above
This is the other carrot that could come into play. The WBC may elevate Kabayel if Usyk vacates, and give him a prompt order too.
If so, the leading candidate right now would be Tyson Fury. The Briton is ranked number one, following his return to the ring this April.
The major caveat of course is that 'The Gypsy King' is working towards a super-bout with Anthony Joshua, theoretically tying him up.
But fight fans have seen the latter bout fall apart enough times to know it may do so again. Fury is open to pursuing Kabayel instead.
If he is out of the picture though, the WBC could look further down the list, though questions linger over Lawrence Okolie's status too.
A chance to unify at the summit
This might be the most far-fetched option - but what if Kabayel is instead handed the immediate opportunity to fight for another belt?
Queensberry, Leigh Dawney
It is unlikely to be Usyk - there would be no reason to vacate the WBC title if he wanted Kabayel all along - but there is the WBO crown.
Daniel Dubois ripped it from Fabio Wardley's hands last May in a gripping encounter, with the latter activating a swift rematch clause.
No date or deal is set, but if Kabayel finds himself elevated in a similar timeframe, he could elect to wait and fight the winner instead.
Alternatively, if Wardley is unable to get his return shot, the German could pursue Dubois outright and chase the Briton for that crown.
Zayas vs. Ennis - watch only on DAZN
Xander Zayas defends his WBO and WBA super welterweight titles against Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis on Saturday, June 27, exclusively live on DAZN. Buy as a one-off PPV or included, along with Joshua vs. Prenga (July 25) and Canelo vs. M'billi (Sept 12) PPVs, with a DAZN Ultimate Tier subscription.
