The WBC president discusses Oleksandr Usyk's next fight, Tyson Fury’s opportunity to challenge for the world title again and Katie Taylor’s farewell bout at Croke Park in September.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has revealed that Oleksandr Usyk and Agit Kabayel have until June 30 to agree terms for a fight, otherwise the contest will head to a purse bid.
Should Usyk decide not to face Kabayel next, Tyson Fury is currently ranked as the WBC’s number-one contender. Sulaiman revealed that Fury would be in line for another shot at the heavyweight title if a long-awaited Battle of Britain showdown with Anthony Joshua fails to materialise.
In our exclusive interview, Sulaiman also discusses Tommy Fury’s ranking prospects, crossover boxing, and previews Katie Taylor’s farewell fight against Flora Pili at Croke Park on September 5.
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Has a deadline been set for Oleksandr Usyk and Agit Kabayel to agree terms on their upcoming WBC heavyweight title fight?
No, we have ordered the fight. If there’s no agreement, there will be a purse bid, I believe on the 30th of June. We’re just waiting for them to negotiate and hopefully the fight will happen as soon as possible, and we continue with this great run in heavyweight boxing.
It’s going through a great era the heavyweight division. They knew [Team Usyk about Kabayel being mandatory challenger]. They have always known that the mandatory was the one that they requested at the convention.
I have not had any communications after we ordered the fight. But it’s exciting. There are many, many great fights that can be happening. Anthony Joshua is coming back, Tyson Fury is coming back, you have the excitement going on.
So, there are many great things that are happening in boxing, and I’m so proud of Rico Verhoeven. He did a tremendous fight against Oleksandr Usyk.
Now nobody talks about it, but when the WBC supported and approved the fight, we were killed by everybody. But once again, we were right, and I’m proud of the kid. He’s a great story.
With Rico, they were saying he was a kickboxer. Boxing is a very strong part of kickboxing. Muay Thai is very similar to boxing, so we have been consistent. Muay Thai fighters can get ranked and can go fight for the title.
So, this is the difference between administering properly, the WBC, with the voice of the world, with expert opinion, with complete discussions.
I’m just very proud of my WBC, the way we stick together. We have the principles and we continue to always have the benefit of the fans in mind, giving them the best possible fights.
Can Ryan Garcia v Conor Benn happen despite Oscar De La Hoya and Dana White being the respective promoters?
It’s a possibility. We’ve been staying out of it, out of the ring. Everybody’s fighting each other.
The fact is, the WBC named Conor Benn mandatory at the convention, but then he took another fight. So there’s a lot right there. We’re waiting.
We’re allowing them to try to negotiate and get to the best deal for everyone, and we will see. We are not rushing into anything. We’re letting them try to have the best for the sport. Whenever it’s necessary, then we will intervene.
UFC Freedom 250 happened on Sunday and Tyson Fury was seen pictured next to Dana White, what do you make of it?
I don’t speculate. I don’t like to talk about things that are “what if” and this and that. We stick to what we have to do, what we do, and whatever is out there is out there.
Boxing has been a sport that, without promoters, there’s no boxing. And I respect and I support all boxing promoters, and I’m seeing a great effort by everyone — Matchroom, Queensberry, Top Rank, PBC, now Boxxer signed with DAZN.
Mr. Honda with Teiken Promotions in Japan, Mexican promoters, promoters all over the world are working very hard to make sure that boxing continues to carry on.
It is just a matter of everybody collaborating and building bridges instead of creating controversy and fights between people outside of the ring. The fights should be inside the ring. So, we’ll see. I don’t know. Whatever comes, we will administer it as it is.
Is there a chance you could meet Dana White and clear the air?
I have never said no to a meeting with anyone in my life. Whoever wants to meet with the WBC, with myself, we are open to anything. We just go by facts, by actions, not by words.
Tyson Fury is set to face Anthony Joshua. But Tyson said he would be open to fight for the WBC world title if the fight somehow doesn’t happen. Could this happen if Usyk and Kabayel don’t fight?
Tyson Fury has been one of the greatest ambassadors, one of the proudest champions. I have a great respect for him and his family and his team.
We had a great run for many years as our champion. Way, way back in 2011 or 2012, he was promoted by Mick Hennessy, and he had some sort of outburst, and my father had an exchange with him, and he apologised. Our relationship with Tyson Fury has lasted so long.
Maybe he doesn’t even remember that. Then he wins, he beats Wladimir Klitschko, and falls into the deepest, darkest place that any human being can imagine. Then he comes out of it and becomes WBC champion.
He’s a hero for me, and I wish him well. I wish him the best always, and if he ever fights for the WBC title again, I will be there for sure.
If he ever wins the WBC title again, I will be the proudest man to put the belt on Tyson Fury. He’s a sensational representative of the WBC, and I love the man.
We have had many intimate, great, sensational moments, and I’ve seen how he cares for the people, how his story motivates people, and he is just special. I wish him the best, regardless of what life brings to him. I wish him always the best.
To confirm, you would offer him [Tyson Fury] a world title shot next?
He’s the number one contender in the WBC. He’s the number one contender. When he came back, the WBC ranked him where he belongs.
To us, he’s the number one contender. Agit Kabayel is the mandatory for Usyk, but Tyson Fury is the number one contender of the WBC.
Tyson said Tommy Fury deserves to be in the WBC top 15 and have a world title shot – is this possible, and is he good enough to?
I think so. They’re a fighting family. I think even the father could be ranked. He’s unbelievable. They are brave, they are strong, so absolutely.
I think he has the merits. We like everything that has to do with crossover, with its support. Let’s make it interesting. Let’s understand the current times while respecting boxing at the same time [on Fury v Eddie Hall]. So, I’m all up for that, and we’ll see what the ratings committee will do for next month’s rankings.
Is Misfits good for boxing or should it be stopped from happening?
It’s good when you do it correctly. It’s dangerous if you do it incorrectly. There has to be a solid working ethic, a plan in all organisations, by the promoters, by both teams, both fighters, and the medicals.
I’ve seen horrible events in boxing between people that should not be fighting each other. Huge weight differences, height differences, mocking the sport in a way.
But most importantly, putting in danger the lives of those who go into the ring. If you don’t do the correct medicals, nobody should go into the ring without an MRI.
You don’t know what your childhood injuries could bring, or even injuries you’re born with. We all can have some sort of injury that, with a heavy blow, can kill you or put you in a very bad position.
I saw a clip on social media of someone charging over after the fight at his opponent from the weekend. Whoever promotes a boxing event has to be responsible. They need to do it responsibly. My recommendation would be to the promoters, but you never know what’s going to happen. We’ve seen football games where there are riots, and baseball, and hockey.
So, it happens in every sport. You cannot just blame boxing. But there has to be responsibility, there has to be consequences.
My recommendation to those who sanction Misfits, those who promote Misfits, and those who participate in Misfits is to respect the sport and do whatever is necessary, and there has to be accountability for the actions.
Katie Taylor returns to Croke Park for her farewell fight, how huge is it with the fight being at Croke Park?
We are so excited about Taylor. One of the greatest fighters ever to step into the ring. She believes in the power of women.
We don’t call it men’s boxing or women’s boxing. It’s boxing. So, I’m so happy for her. She’s been a tremendous asset, a tremendous ambassador for the sport and for the WBC and we are very excited about September 5th.
It’s one of those moments, we are in a great era of boxing [on 80,000 tickets being sold]. We just had Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani sell out the Tokyo Dome. We will see a sell-out in Ireland.
Fights are happening in all parts of the world. I mean, I’m so happy. There are many questions and many concerns about different things, but at the same time there are so many things to celebrate, to be proud of, and to continue to work hard for in boxing.
When you look back at her incredible career, what is the standout moment for you?
Of course, the trilogy with Amanda Serrano has to stand out. But her loyalty towards the principles of safety and respect for the organisation also stands out.
She was tempted and she was offered opportunities to fight three-minute rounds on several occasions, and when you respect the sport, you gain much more credibility and loyalty.
Safety is of paramount importance. There is nothing more important than safety. These men and women go into the ring, and one day they finish their careers and they go back home.
We want them to be completely safe and healthy and to have the opportunity to live a life doing something else. Katie Taylor represents everything that is good about boxing.
She’s a role model, she’s a champion, and she’s somebody that young fighters can look up to. I am very proud of everything she has accomplished, and I look forward to seeing her continue making history.
