Agit Kabayel can dream of a World Cup fight in the heavyweight division. The boxer from Bochum defeated the Chinese Zhilei Zhang in impressive fashion.
After his next statement victory, German professional boxer Agit Kabayel can hope for an early World Cup fight. The heavyweight from Bochum won the elimination fight of the WBC association on Saturday in Riad against the Chinese Zhilei Zhang by knockout in the sixth round and is now entitled to a fight against world champion Alexander Usyk as mandatory challenger. The 32-year-old celebrated his 26th victory in 26 professional fights and was crowned interim WBC champion. Zhang suffered his third defeat in his 31st fight.
Kabayel is thus continuing in the footsteps of Max Schmeling, who almost 100 years ago was the only German to sit on the heavyweight throne. However, it is not certain whether a fight against Usyk will actually take place – a unification fight with IBF world champion Daniel Dubois could be financially more lucrative for the Ukrainian.
In front of Usyk and former world champion Anthony Joshua, Kabayel relied on his dreaded body shots in the first few rounds, which had earned him the nickname “Leberking” (liver king). The man from Bochum was clearly the more active boxer and sought the center of the ring, while the 41-year-old Chinese boxer was already struggling with physical fitness early on – but then knocked Kabayel to the ground with his powerful left in the fifth round. The German fought back, went for the body in the sixth round – and wore Zhang down decisively. The Chinese boxer went down and was counted out.
Kabayel, who had previously been European champion twice, had risen to the top with impressive victories over the previously unbeaten Arslanbek Machmudov (Russia) and Frank Sanchez (Cuba) – and now emphatically underlined his claim to the world title.
