Oleksandr Usyk has claimed he could pivot from his original plan to face Tyson Fury for a third time and instead face heavyweight dangerman Agit Kabayel.
Usyk recently revealed a three-fight plan before he hangs up his gloves, starting with Rico Verhoeven on May 23 in Egypt and concluding with a third bout against Fury, who he has already beaten on two occasions.
The WBC approved the Ukrainian great to defend his title against ex-kickboxing champion, Verhoeven providing he faces interim titlist, Kabayel next.
“Three fights [remaining],” the 39-year-old told Inside The Ring.
“Rico, this is first.
“Second is who wins [between Fabio] Wardley and [Daniel] Dubois and [the] third fight is my friend, ‘Greedy Belly’ Tyson Fury.”
Usyk faced criticism in some circles for not including Kabayel as part of his shortlist.
However, ’The Cat’ has seemingly had a change of heart, insisting he could face the German instead of ‘The Gypsy King’, who returns to the ring on April 11 against Arslanbek Makhmudov.
“Maybe [I’ll fight] Kabayel,” Usyk told Daily Mail Boxing.
“Maybe we’ll change [from] Tyson [Fury to] maybe Kabayel.
“This is the plan. This is my plan, but I don’t know the plan from god.
“I understand Agit’s fans [saying], ‘Usyk, you must fight’.
“I never must [fight anyone].
“I must live my life and my team and my child.
“I waited for my chance a lot of times.
“Maybe it’s possible. Maybe I’ll fight Agit. Now I don’t have an idea.”
“He’s a great fighter, smart.”
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Verhoeven will fight for just the second time as a professional when he challenges Usyk at the Pyramids of Giza.
The two-weight world champion was expected to face Wardley, but instead relinquished his WBO title, with the Brit subsequently elevated from interim titlist to full world champion.
The 31-year-old is set to make a first defence of his crown on May 9 against former world champion, Dubois who was stopped by Usyk in five rounds in July at Wembley Stadium.
