Agit Kabayel’s first world title defence against heavyweight with 90% KO ratio now official

Kerr Ferguson

Agit Kabayel’s first world title defence against heavyweight with 90% KO ratio now official
Image credit: Getty

Agit Kabayel will make the first defence of his WBC heavyweight world title this year, looking to fill the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Düsseldorf, Germany.

The 34-year-old was elevated from interim to full champion when Oleksandr Usyk rejected a mandatory fight with him and instead vacated the belt.

Kabayel earned his position at the top of the division with impressive wins over Frank Sanchez, Arslanbek Makhmudov and Zhilei Zhang, proving himself to be one of the most formidable finishers in the division.

Coming off a third round stoppage win over Damien Knyba, Kabayel was promised a major stadium show in Germany for his first fight as champion, and promoter Frank Warren has delivered.

The fan-favourite heavyweight will put his WBC belt on the line against Albania’s Nelson Hysa on November 28 at the 50,000 seater venue.

Hysa is yet to compete anywhere near this level, but recently talked himself into the position by confronting Kabayel at ringside after a quick stoppage win over Thomas Narmo on the undercard of Moses Itauma vs Filip Hrgovic.

The champion will step through the ropes a significant favourite despite Hysa boasting 23 knockouts from 25 wins and his own undefeated record.

A win for Kabayel will pave the way for unifications against the division’s other champions in Daniel Dubois and Hrgovic. Dubois will rematch Fabio Wardley later this month, while Hrgovic is expected to take on mandatory challenger Frank Sanchez next.

The WBA belt situation remains up in the air, with ‘regular’ champion Murat Gassiev recently receiving the news that, rather than being upgraded to ‘super’ champion, that belt could instead be on the line for the Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua bout. If so, Kabayel has another big money unification option waiting.

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