Agit Kabayel can dream of a world heavyweight title fight after his next win – and he’s ready for a shot at Alexander Usyk.
Agit Kabayel accepted the well-deserved congratulations from Alexander Usyk with a broad smile, then the Ukrainian heavyweight king even placed the shiny WBC belt over his shoulder.
With his next statement victory, the boxer from Bochum had fought his way into the absolute world elite and to the interim world championship title. And his big goal is firmly in his sights, the designated successor to Max Schmeling.
“This is a great confirmation,” Kabayel said after his knockout victory in Riyadh against the Chinese colossus Zhang Zhilei when asked by SID. ‘I’m ready for Usyk,’ he emphasized on DAZN: ”I’ll fight anyone. I hate trash talk. I don’t do politics. I just want to fight.” He dedicated his victory to trainer Sükru Aksu, who has been with him for many years.
After his 26th victory in 26 professional fights (18 of them by knockout), Kabayel, as mandatory challenger, is now entitled to a fight against Ukrainian world champion Usyk – and continues to follow in the footsteps of Schmeling, who almost 100 years ago was the only German to become heavyweight champion.
Whether a fight against Usyk will actually take place, however, is still open – a unification fight with IBF world champion Daniel Dubois, who was unable to make it to his fight against Joseph Parker in Riyadh on Saturday due to illness, could be financially more lucrative for the Ukrainian. Nevertheless, Kabayel has arrived in the absolute elite of the heavyweight division. Boxing icon Axel Schulz described Kabayel to the Bild newspaper as “the best heavyweight we’ve seen in Germany since the turn of the millennium.”
The 32-year-old from Bochum-Wattenscheid lived up to his nickname “Liver King” against Zhang. Kabayel, who was loudly supported, wore down the Chinese man, who had sent Kabayel to the ground with a powerful left hook in round five, with body shots. In the sixth round, Kabayel landed the decisive liver hook, sending Zhang to his knees and prompting the count.
After months of preparation, Kabayel is now looking forward to some time off, but he can hardly wait for his World Cup chance. “The title of interim world champion,” said Kabayel, “is not the ultimate goal.”
