Mauricio Sulaiman: Fury v Kabayel can happen at the end of 2026

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The WBC president is open to giving Tyson Fury the first opportunity to challenge newly-crowned heavyweight champion Agit Kabayel.

Mauricio Sulaiman has provided an update on the heavyweight division after Oleksandr Usyk vacated his world titles and Agit Kabayel was upgraded to WBC champion.

The WBC president recently spoke to Tyson Fury and revealed that the Briton wants to fight Agit Kabayel in a bid to become a three-time heavyweight world champion. Sulaiman believes that fight is “very doable” and could take place before the end of the year.

However, Fury is also expected to face Anthony Joshua later this year, potentially delaying any bout with Kabayel. Fury is the narrow favourite in the boxing betting to beat Joshua in the prospective bout.

That has fuelled speculation that Wladimir Klitschko could instead challenge for the WBC title, with the former champion having previously said he wants to become the oldest heavyweight world champion in history.

What is next for Agit Kabayel?

We have a board meeting today, and that’s one of the topics we’re going to review, the status of all divisions. And, of course, the status for Kabayel will be reviewed today. So, within this week, we will have a better understanding of what’s coming up.

Could Wladimir Klitschko be in line to fight for the WBC title?

I don’t speculate. There’s always rumours, there’s always things being said. Until we get a formal petition for something, that is when the WBC gets involved.

Klitschko has always had this dream of coming back and beating Foreman’s record at heavyweight, do you think he could return and win a world title?

Well, that’s a huge record, the age of becoming heavyweight champion. Bernard Hopkins has the other one for the oldest boxer as champion, Alicia Ashley in women’s boxing, and it’s always interesting for the statistics.

Every fighter will always believe he still has one more great fight in him. Every human being believes they can still do what they did at the top level.

But there are fighters of elite level. We were very criticised when we accepted Manny Pacquiao to come back after a four-year layoff, and look at the result.

When Hagler and Leonard fought, it was the same scandal. We do our work, we do our research, medicals, we do everything that has to be done for every case, which is different. Every case has different elements, so that’s one of the differences when we decide whether to take steps or not.

Have you spoken to Tyson Fury recently, and if so, does he want to fight for the WBC title again – and is it possible?

He’s my friend. He’s my dear friend. He was our champion for several years, a very proud WBC man, family man. We share values, we share special moments, and we speak often. So I’m very happy to hear that he’s looking great.

That video yesterday he sent ahead of England vs Mexico, he looked happy. He’s just a unique individual. Kayabel vs Fury, that’s a very doable fight, of course.