Alexander Usyk could be challenged by Agit Kabayel, Murat Gassiev or Moses Itauma if he beats Rico Verhoeven. Boxing news

Boxers are never taught to ignore an opponent, but with Oleksandr Usyk widely expected to dispatch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven on Saturday, the focus is on what’s next for the Ukrainian.

USIC’s voluntary defense against the Dutch kickboxing heavyweight champion at the foot of Egypt’s Giza pyramids has divided opinion in the boxing world about its credibility, but there is consensus on one thing: the predictable result.

Barring one of the biggest upsets in boxing history, Usyk’s next steps come Saturday night appear set in stone, but the reigning WBC, WBA and IBF world heavyweight champion has no intention of relinquishing his title.

The WBC has ordered a mandatory defense against Agit Kabael. Failure to fight the undefeated German will see Usic stripped of his title.

Come through, and another defense – this time of his WBA belt – will follow, with Russian Murat Gasiv, whom Usyk defeated at cruiserweight in 2018, currently ranked as the number one contender.

“Usyk now has all of this lined up compulsively,” explained promoter Eddie Hearn.

“Many people think, Agit Kabael is a very dangerous fight. I’m not so sure, but I think he has the qualities to be very competitive against Usyk. It’s a big stadium fight in Germany.

“You’ve got Richard Torrez against Frank Sanchez in the final eliminator on Saturday. It’s going to be another imperative that he’s going to be forced into.”

Hearn also suggested that British heavyweights Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois – all of whom have lost twice to Usyk – would welcome another shot at the king of the division, as would rising star Moses Itauma, but added that the Ukrainian will be the sole arbiter of his future.

“I dare say, you’ve got three British heavyweights that he’s beaten twice. I’m sure all of them, even AJ, would love another crack of the whip,” added Hearn.

“Then you have come through Moses (Itauma). He may be obligatory at some point.

“One thing Usyk has shown is that he will do what he wants to do and he will do what he wants to do with the belts as well.

“I think he’s one of those guys, one of the few, who has the legacy of not worrying about the belt.”

‘How can Usyk call time?!’

Whatever is next for Usyk, however the Verhoeven fight unfolds, it must not be retirement as far as Hearn is concerned.

“We have a tendency in this game to give them careers whenever we want, not whenever they want, but whenever we want,” he added.

“I want to see Usyk retire undefeated. To go undisputed in the cruiserweight division, to go undisputed in the heavyweight division — that would be an amazing accomplishment and a way to bow out.

“But when you watch Usyk train closely in the gym, it’s a sight to behold. He looks big. You can tell he’s got some size for the future.

“When you see his desire and you see him retreat as a fighter, how do you call time if he still wants to do it?

“These guys – boxing is not what they know, but most of what they know. They’ve had hundreds of amateur fights. It’s their life.

“I think he’s the kind of guy that, when he loses the will to fight, we won’t see him – he’ll be gone.”