Germany’s boxing hopeful Agit Kabayel will fight for the interim WBC belt on February 22. If the “Liver King” from the Ruhr region wins, he will have the right to challenge heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk.
Agit Kabayel (25-0, 17 knockouts) has been at the top of the rankings of the major world federations for some time now. The 32-year-old heavyweight is now ranked number one by the World Boxing Council (WBC) after Tyson Fury retired. If Kabayel wins against China’s Zhilei Zhang (27-2-1, 22 knockouts) on February 22 – and thus also the WBC interim world championship – he will practically take the last step to the throne. Triple champion Oleksandr Usyk currently sits there – and the “Liver King” from the Ruhr area would be the Ukrainian’s mandatory challenger if he were to win again in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia).
“We are both unbeaten”
“After the fight we will weigh up our options,” Kabayel told Ring Magazine. “I want to fight the best in the world. That’s why we are part of the Riyadh Season. At the moment, Oleksandr Usyk is the best. He is the world heavyweight champion and we are both unbeaten,” noted Germany’s boxing hopeful.
Will Kabayel get his chance against Usyk? Even if he wins against Zhang, he will probably have to wait a little longer. For Usyk, it might be more lucrative to fight the future IBF champion (to be determined on February 22 at Dubois vs. Parker) again for the Udisputed crown. That’s why Kabayel emphasizes: “To be clear, we will fight anyone that ‘His Excellency’ (Turki Al-Sheikh) and the Riyadh Season choose for us. That’s also the reason why we’re fighting Zhang now – and that’s what we’re focusing on.”
Criticism of the media
However, the fight on Saturday against Chinese colossus Zhang (1.98 meters; 130 kilos) has hardly received any media attention in Germany. “I think that’s a shame and I don’t understand it. I try to remain as modest as possible, don’t make trash talk and try to shine with my performance,” Kabayel told sport.de.
“I’m fighting for Germany, I’m on the verge of a world heavyweight championship fight, I’m now boxing for an interim world championship, a small world championship so to speak – I’m on the big leap and yet there’s no push. The media are asleep and somehow don’t feel like reporting on it. Maybe boxing is too expensive for the German market and nobody wants to push it. I can’t believe they’re not pushing it.”
After all, the streaming service DAZN, which will be broadcasting on February 22, has done him a “great honor. They immortalized me with a huge graffito on an old war bunker in Wattenscheid. My parents, especially my mother and my wife, are very proud and happy. An extra portion of motivation that the “Liver King” doesn’t need for his next opponent, however – Kabayel has already done his homework.
“Zhang shocks people”
“Zhang surprises his opponents. I don’t think he has the most power in the heavyweight division, but he shocks people,” he says. The 41-year-old southpaw from the Middle Kingdom has great timing and knows exactly when his opponent doesn’t have the necessary body tension – “and then he strikes. I think this will be the toughest fight of my career.” That’s why “Germany’s Boxer of the Year 2024” wants to be vigilant and focus on his boxing strengths. “I think Zhang will adjust to me. If I go to the body, he will certainly try to counter.”
Can Kabayel hope for a fitness advantage against “Big Bang” Zhang due to the age difference? Coach Sükrü Aksu prefers to remain cautious. “Zhang has already gone the full distance of twelve rounds twice without any problems,” emphasizes the ring strategist in an interview with sport.de. “He moves well. The guy is at home in the ring. Why hasn’t anyone knocked him out if he’s supposedly slowing down?” That’s why the motto is: “You don’t know what to expect until the bell rings.” And that’s why adaptability is required.
Text: Frank Schwantes