'We sell out a stadium' - Agit Kabayel names two possible locations for Oleksandr Usyk world title fight

The pair faced off in Giza, Egypt last weekend when Usyk survived a scare and stopped Rico Verhoeven in controversial fashion.

Despite calls from His Excellency Turki Alalshikh for Usyk to face Verhoeven next, there is a common consensus that Kabayel should be the man to face the Ukrainian next.

Kabayel has been the WBC's interim heavyweight champion since knocking out Zhilei Zhang in February 2025, and has been waiting in the wings as the WBC's next man in line to challenge Usyk. 

Kabayel wants Usyk fight in Gelsenkirchen or Düsseldorf

At the start of the year, Kabayel fought in his home country of Germany for the first time since 2023 when stopped Damian Knyba in three rounds, but this victory in Oberhausen was remembered for the electric atmosphere inside the Rudolf Weber-Arena. 

The passion of Kabayel's fans immediately set pulses racing. If he can sell out an arena within days which creates a raucous atmosphere, imagine what it would be like if Kabayel's promoter Frank Warren can finally land the world title fight which the 33-year-old craves. 

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Usyk survives scare against king of kickboxing Verhoeven

Watch the highlights from thrilling heavyweight clash

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Fighting in front of tens of thousands in a football stadium is in Kabayel's sights, it's a dream he reiterated when speaking exclusively to DAZN News.

"He [Usyk] understands that I have a big support in Germany. With this fight, we sell out a stadium, he knows Kabayel is the money fight," Kabayel said. 

Kabayel then named the two football stadiums where he would like his fight with Usyk to take place. 

"Either the VELTINS-Arena in Gelsenkirchen, the home of Schalke or the Esprit Arena in Düsseldorf which would be easier for people who come from other countries, it can hold up to 65,000 people."

Gelsenkirchen and Düsseldorf no stranger to world heavyweight title fights

The VELTINS-Arena and Esprit Arena are no stranger to hosting world heavyweight title fights. 

In 2009, the home of Schalke hosted the world heavyweight title bout between Wladimir Klitschko and David Haye, which Klitschko won by unanimous decision. 

Then, six years later, Düsseldorf's Esprit Arena was the stage for when Tyson Fury shocked Klitschko to become the IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight champion with a performance which is hailed as one of the best by a British fighter overseas. 

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