[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"football-site-config":3,"world-cup-status-en":27,"news-detail-usyk-must-fight-kabayel-next-wbc-president-very-clear":61,"news-related-usyk-must-fight-kabayel-next-wbc-president-very-clear-en":93,"news-related-match-usyk-must-fight-kabayel-next-wbc-president-very-clear-en":26},{"adSlots":4,"affiliateMode":5,"brandName":6,"contentStrategy":7,"currency":8,"friendLinks":9,"homepageLayoutKey":10,"leagueFocus":11,"locale":12,"planVisibility":13,"seoDescription":14,"seoTitleTemplate":15,"siteCode":10,"siteName":6,"siteType":10,"subscriptionMode":5,"timezone":16,"id":17,"tenantID":18,"primaryDomain":19,"countryCode":20,"logoUrl":21,"faviconUrl":21,"theme":22,"seoKeywords":24,"status":25,"ads":4,"focusLeagues":26,"affiliatePolicies":26},[],"shared","Football Prediction Platform","scores_predictions","USD",[],"main",[],"en-US",[],"Football fixtures, results, free predictions, subscriptions, and clearly labeled partner links.","{page} | Football Prediction Platform","America\u002FNew_York",323900000000000000,1,"football.easytestdev.online","US","",{"primaryColor":23},"#1677ff","football predictions, football fixtures, football results","active",null,{"active":28,"leagueId":29,"leagueName":30,"leagueImagePath":31,"seasonId":32,"seasonName":33,"startingAt":34,"endingAt":35,"daysToStart":36,"daysToEnd":37,"phase":38,"includeQualifying":39,"hostCities":40},true,"326135624916537344","World Cup","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.api-sports.io\u002Ffootball\u002Fleagues\u002F1.png","326255613308833792","2026\u002F2027","2026-06-11","2026-06-28",-37,-20,"finished_recent",false,[41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,60],"Atlanta","Boston","Dallas","East Rutherford","Guadalajara","Houston","Kansas City","Los Angeles","Mexico City","Miami","Monterrey","New-York","New York New Jersey","Philadelphia","San-Francisco","San Francisco Bay Area","Seattle","Toronto","Vancouver","Zapopan",{"article":62},{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":63,"category":64,"excerpt":65,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":66,"leagueId":67,"leagueName":68,"matchId":69,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":70,"slug":71,"sourceName":72,"sourceURL":73,"teamId":74,"teamName":75,"teamIds":76,"teamNames":84,"title":92},"Oleksandr Usyk's reign as a unified heavyweight champion faces a critical juncture after the World Boxing Council (WBC) delivered an uncompromising mandate: defend the title against mandatory challenger Agit Kabayel next, or risk being stripped of the belt. WBC president Mauricio Sulaimán reinforced the organization's stance in an interview with Sky Sports, leaving no room for ambiguity regarding the Ukrainian's immediate obligations.\n\nUsyk, who also holds the WBA Super and IBF heavyweight titles, successfully petitioned for a voluntary defence against Dutch kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven on May 23 at the Giza pyramids. That bout was sanctioned on the condition that he would next face Kabayel, the WBC interim champion and number one contender since February 2025. Sulaimán confirmed the agreement has now fallen due. “The WBC ruling was very clear,” he stated. “We accepted Usyk's petition for a voluntary defence, which has now taken place. Now the mandatory fight is Usyk against the interim champion Kabayel.”\n\nThe Verhoeven showdown proved more taxing than many anticipated. Fighting in only his second professional boxing match, the kickboxing icon pushed Usyk to the brink, surviving deep into the 11th round before a contentious stoppage by referee Mark Lyson with one second remaining. The dramatic finish ignited immediate calls for a rematch, but the WBC has shut down that possibility as long as Usyk wishes to retain the green and gold belt. Sulaimán’s comments make clear that the voluntary defence option has been exhausted, and any deviation from the Kabayel mandate will trigger the stripping process.\n\nFor Kabayel, the ruling validates over 16 months of patience. The German contender earned his shot by capturing the WBC interim crown and holding the mandatory position during Usyk’s voluntary excursions and broader heavyweight maneuvering. A clash with Usyk would represent a pinnacle achievement, offering the undefeated (25-0) fighter the chance to seize ultimate glory. Should Usyk vacate or be stripped, Sulaimán remained noncommittal on whether Kabayel would be elevated directly to full champion or forced into a vacant title bout, stating only: “We don't anticipate. We don't speculate. Only when something happens, when something is presented, do we go through the Board of Governors to make the proper ruling.”\n\nThe situation echoes recent heavyweight title fragmentation. Usyk’s second undisputed reign ended when he relinquished his WBO belt in November 2025, paving the way for Fabio Wardley and later Daniel Dubois to claim it. Currently, the division’s belts are scattered among multiple champions, and losing the WBC title would further fracture the landscape. That prospect places immense pressure on Usyk’s team to finalize terms with Kabayel, lest they risk diminishing the champion’s standing and legacy.\n\nUsyk, a southpaw maestro who previously unified the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions, has built a career on taking the toughest challenges. A fight with the technically skilled and physically robust Kabayel would fit that narrative, though the Verhoeven near-miss may have prompted a reassessment of risk-reward calculations. The Egyptian thriller showcased Usyk’s resilience but also exposed vulnerabilities that a fresher, younger mandatory might exploit.\n\nThe WBC’s firm line also underscores broader boxing politics. Governing bodies have faced criticism for allowing champions to pursue lucrative novelty bouts over legitimate contenders, weakening the integrity of world titles. Sulaimán’s insistence that “the referee's only concern is the safety of the fighter” in defending Lyson’s stoppage further highlights the organization’s willingness to back its officials and enforce rules, even when outcomes prove unpopular.\n\nAs negotiations begin, the boxing world watches closely. Promoter Frank Warren has already suggested Usyk should be stripped if he attempts to swerve Kabayel, adding industry pressure. For fans, the prospect of a genuine, high-stakes unification or mandatory defence is far more compelling than a repeat of an unconventional crossover. Usyk’s next move will not only define his immediate future but could reshape the heavyweight hierarchy for years to come.\n\nBased on reporting from Sky Sports.","news","Usyk must defend his WBC heavyweight title against Kabayel next or be stripped, says Sulaimán, ruling out a Verhoeven rematch after controversial stoppage.","336988844412899329","326135625054949376","Premier League","0","2026-06-01T20:22:00Z","usyk-must-fight-kabayel-next-wbc-president-very-clear","Sky Sports","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.skysports.com\u002Fboxing\u002Fnews\u002F12040\u002F13549926\u002Foleksandr-usyk-must-defend-wbc-heavyweight-title-against-agit-kabayel-next-says-president-mauricio-sulaim225n","326222712265510912","Egypt",[74,77,78,79,80,81,82,83],"326257604382691328","326222707169431552","326222713142120448","326257539962376192","326257546392244224","326257565602156544","326257565635710976",[75,85,86,87,88,89,90,91],"GOES","Anderlecht","Canada","Como","Nottingham Forest","Real Betis","Getafe","Usyk Must Fight Kabayel Next: WBC President 'Very Clear'",[94,124,152,175],{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":-1,"category":64,"excerpt":95,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":96,"leagueId":67,"leagueName":68,"matchId":69,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":97,"slug":98,"sourceName":99,"sourceURL":100,"teamId":101,"teamName":102,"teamIds":103,"teamNames":113,"title":123},"Pierre Sage is set to join Crystal Palace after leading Lens to Coupe de France glory. Sporting director Jean-Louis Leca must now find a successor and reshape","338193111534538753","2026-06-05T03:15:00Z","pierre-sage-to-crystal-palace-what-it-means-for-lens","L'Equipe","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.lequipe.fr\u002FFootball\u002FArticle\u002FPierre-sage-sur-le-depart-jean-louis-leca-le-directeur-sportif-de-lens-va-avoir-plusieurs-chantiers-a-gerer\u002F1681831#at_medium=RSS_feeds","326257536443355136","Lens",[101,104,105,106,107,108,109,110,111,112],"326255037950988288","326257535952621568","326257572367568896","326257602382008320","326222711447621632","326257536049090560","326222712726884352","326222711682502656","326257844615647232",[102,114,115,116,117,118,119,120,121,122],"Crystal Palace","Marseille","Le Mans","Vitesse","France","Nice","Cape Verde Islands","England","Ajaccio","Pierre Sage to Crystal Palace: What It Means for Lens",{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":-1,"category":64,"excerpt":125,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":126,"leagueId":67,"leagueName":68,"matchId":69,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":127,"slug":128,"sourceName":129,"sourceURL":130,"teamId":131,"teamName":132,"teamIds":133,"teamNames":142,"title":151},"Chris Wood's serious knee injury clouds New Zealand's World Cup hopes as the All Whites face Iran, Egypt, and Belgium in Group G.","338128485845307393","2026-06-04T23:01:18Z","new-zealand-s-2026-world-cup-bid-wood-injury-a-major-doubt","The Guardian","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Ffootball\u002F2026\u002Fjun\u002F05\u002Fnew-zealand-world-cup-2026-team-guide","326222713104371712","New Zealand",[131,81,134,135,136,137,138,139,140,74,141],"326257595583041536","326222712622026752","326257808754348032","326257660145963008","326222711976103936","326257545754710016","326222712013852672","326222711401484288",[132,89,143,144,145,146,147,148,149,75,150],"New Caledonia","South Africa","Northampton","Motherwell","Australia","Newcastle","Iran","Belgium","New Zealand's 2026 World Cup Bid: Wood Injury a Major Doubt",{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":-1,"category":64,"excerpt":153,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":154,"leagueId":67,"leagueName":68,"matchId":69,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":155,"slug":156,"sourceName":129,"sourceURL":157,"teamId":158,"teamName":159,"teamIds":160,"teamNames":167,"title":174},"Spain 1-1 Iraq: Yamal injury concern as eight debutants feature in World Cup warm-up. Torres gave lead but Doski's long-range stunner equalized. Depth tested.","338113367510093825","2026-06-04T22:04:33Z","spain-1-1-iraq-what-yamal-s-absence-squad-rotation-mean","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Ffootball\u002F2026\u002Fjun\u002F04\u002Fspain-iraq-friendly-international-match-report","326222711653142528","Spain",[158,161,162,163,79,164,78,165,166],"326257593141956608","326257565195309056","326222711908995072","326222712819159040","326222712395534336","326257565233057792",[159,168,169,170,87,171,86,172,173],"Chattanooga","Barcelona","Mexico","Iraq","Norway","Atletico Madrid","Spain 1-1 Iraq: What Yamal's Absence & Squad Rotation Mean",{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":-1,"category":64,"excerpt":176,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":177,"leagueId":67,"leagueName":68,"matchId":69,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":178,"slug":179,"sourceName":180,"sourceURL":181,"teamId":182,"teamName":183,"teamIds":184,"teamNames":193,"title":202},"NI's youngest post-WWII side (avg age 22.1) beat Guinea 1-0 with Atcheson scoring and sent off, while Morrison debuted, showing grit before facing France.","338103552524161025","2026-06-04T21:18:17Z","ni-record-youth-side-show-grit-22-1-avg-age-beats-guinea","BBC Sport","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fsport\u002Ffootball\u002Farticles\u002Fc7v9ve8415mo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss","326257664243798016","Northern Ireland",[182,185,186,187,188,104,189,190,191,192,108],"326257791738056704","326257545918287872","326257545968619520","326257808385249280","326257807630274560","326257664713560064","326257664403181568","326257808158756864",[183,194,195,196,197,114,198,199,200,201,118],"Guinea","Liverpool","Arsenal","Sheffield Wednesday","Southampton","Luxembourg","Gibraltar","Blackburn","NI Record Youth Side Show Grit: 22.1 Avg Age Beats Guinea"]