Agit Kabayel is perhaps one of a small group of heavyweights that fans wouldn’t immediately pick to lose to young sensation Moses Itauma.
The German heavyweight has put together an impressive rise in the division over the last couple of years, beating boogeymen Arslanbek Makhmudov, Frank Sanchez and Zhilei Zhang.
He most recently defended his WBC interim heavyweight title against Damian Knyba in Oberhausen in front of an impressive home crowd, and has his sights firmly set on fighting Oleksandr Usyk for the full title or, as mandatory challenger, lobbying the WBC to strip the Ukrainian if he goes in a different direction to free up the belt.
With that plan in clear focus, Kabayel told DAZN he believes Itauma – who impressed once again this past weekend when he became the first man to stop Jermaine Franklin – is not yet ready for the very top level, and wants to see him tested further before considering the match-up.
“He’s a great guy, he’s young, he’s great, he’s a very good boxer, he’s very intelligent.
“But no disrespect to Moses, he’s fought just two good guys in the heavyweight division. When you fight more big guys in the division, we can talk.”
That is easier said than done for Itauma’s team, who have struggled to find willing opponents in the past. In fact, the Kabayel fight, with both under the Queensberry Promotions banner, is an extremely intriguing prospect.
The young Brit, now 14-0 with 12 stoppages, is expected back out in July. As for Kabayel, another fight in Germany could come next as he keeps a close eye on Usyk and the WBC title picture. Following the Ukrainian’s controversial defence against kickboxer Rico Verhoeven in May, the sanctioning body will order the mandatory fight negotiations to begin.
