What's Next For Usyk?

Unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk secured a controversial eleventh-round stoppage of Rico Verhoeven, as we look at who could be next for him.

Agit Kabayel climbed through the ropes to make his case directly to Usyk's face, while Verhoeven rejoined the champion moments later to lobby for a rematch, and Frank Sanchez had earlier thrown his name into the mix with a second-round knockout of previously unbeaten Richard Torrez Jr.

Usyk was arguably losing on points to Verhoeven when he landed a blistering uppercut knockdown in the eleventh round. Had the fight reached that final round, the result could have gone either way.

The case for a Verhoeven rematch is straightforward and difficult to argue. He suffocated Usyk with a smothering approach that took the Ukrainian completely out of his rhythm, and landed clubbing shots as the bigger man throughout. The stoppage deprived him of a twelfth round that might have delivered either a historic upset or an Usyk finish.

Kabayel climbed into the ring, stated his mandatory credentials, lobbied for Germany as the host venue, and put his case to Usyk face to face. His technical boxing, aggressive body attack, and unbeaten 27-0 record make him one of the division's most credible opponents.

Sanchez's claim arrives through the IBF pathway. His second-round knockout of Torrez Jr. came in a title eliminator, placing him in mandatory position with the IBF in the same way Kabayel sits with the WBC. The win itself was dramatic — Sanchez was being troubled by Torrez's hand speed and movement in the opening exchanges before getting the finish.

Usyk has said he intends to fight three times before retiring, as we look to see who is next.