Agit Kabayel makes the first defence of his WBC heavyweight title when he takes on Nelson Hysa in Dusseldorf next month. Should he come thought that test unscathed, the 34-year-old knows his next target, hoping to secure a ‘dream fight’ in 2027.
Kabayel headlined the Rudolf Weber-Arena in Oberhausen back in January, as he defended his WBC Interim world title with a third round knockout of Poland’s Damian Knyba, seemingly teeing up a showdown with Oleksandr Usyk.
However, after Usyk underwhelmed in a victory over Rico Verhoeven, the Ukrainian icon decided to vacate all three of his heavyweight world titles, with Kabayel being elevated to full WBC heavyweight world champion as a result.
Kabayel will now seek to prove that he is a genuine champion by defeating Hysa in the first world title bout of his career, as he headlines the 55,000-capacity Mekur Spiel Arena – home to Bundesliga football outfit, Fortuna Düsseldorf.
Speaking with Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, Kabayel declared that, whilst his full focus is on Hysa, he is planning on securing a ‘dream’ title unification in the outing that follows.
“First of all, I will fight with Nelson. This is my only focus, for now, but after this fight I want a unification fight. This is my dream, I want all of the belts.”
Daniel Dubois currently holds the WBO crown, defending that title in a rematch with Fabio Wardley later this month, while Filip Hrgvoic is the IBF champion following his victory over Moses Itauma in August.
The WBA belt is set to be up for grabs when Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua collide in December, with Kabayel soon hoping to take on any of those aforementioned names.
First though he must deal with Hysa, with that bout taking place on Saturday, November 28, with tickets selling quickly for the first heavyweight world title contest on German soil since Tyson Fury outpointed Wladimir Klitschko at the same venue over a decade ago.
