In a thrilling showdown, Agit Kabayel emerged victorious against Damian Knyba, successfully defending his WBC interim heavyweight title by halting Knyba in the third round. This victory, which took place in Oberhausen, marked Kabayel's return to the ring since his notable win over Zhilei Zhang in February 2025. Kabayel, who remains undefeated, faced a strong initial performance from his Polish adversary, but he quickly turned the tide in his favor.
As the fight progressed, the referee stepped in during the closing moments of the third round to stop the bout following a series of powerful right-hand punches unleashed by Kabayel. In a post-fight interview conducted in the ring, Kabayel engaged with the audience, asking for their preferred next opponent, to which the crowd enthusiastically responded with chants of "Usyk!" echoing throughout the Rudolf Weber-Arena.
Following the match, Kabayel expressed his eagerness for a title shot, stating to DAZN, "I have waited a long time for this title opportunity. Last time, I defeated three formidable opponents during the Riyadh Season. I am ready for the world title fight. Really, I'm prepared. Let's go!"
In November, Kabayel asserted to Sky Sports that he views himself as the ideal challenger for Oleksandr Usyk, the unified heavyweight champion. Although he acknowledged that he did not anticipate Usyk would defend against him in his upcoming fight, he emphasized the significant market presence in Germany, suggesting, "When I face a major name, we need to fill a stadium. I believe once Usyk's team realizes this, they might just say, 'Let's go, Kabayel. I’m willing to fight you.'"
This bold declaration raises interesting questions about the dynamics of heavyweight boxing: Is Kabayel's call-out likely to attract Usyk's attention? And how soon could we see this potential matchup come to fruition? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
