On February 22, Agit Kabayel will face Zhilei Zhang for the WBC interim world championship. Although in the underdog role, the Chinese colossus is already making big noises.
Zhilei Zhang (27-2-1, 22 knockouts) is ready to show all his skills when he takes on Agit Kabayel (25-0, 17 knockouts) in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) on February 22. “Big Bang” wants to perform at least as well in the ring as he did in June 2024, when he covered the former knockout monster Deontay Wilder with punches for five rounds and defeated him early.
“Will train like crazy”
Although the 41-year-old goes into the heavyweight duel against Germany’s boxing hopeful as the underdog, Zhang is ready to cause a sensation. “Preparation is going well so far,” the Chinese colossus (1.98 m, approx. 130 kg) told Fight Hub TV. “We’re going to train like crazy.” Zhang wants to do everything he can with his team so that he can give his best in the Kingdom Arena on February 22.
Kabayel, who is not a big trash talker but prefers to train specifically for the fight for the WBC interim world championship, will do the same. The 32-year-old from Bochum has been preparing for the competition at the UFD gym with coach Sükrü Aksu for years. And with success, as the “Liver King” is undefeated and recently knocked out Arslanbek Makhmudov and Frank Sanchez in succession. Kabayel should also have enough power in the tank for a full-distance fight against Zhang.
Different fight than against Wilder
Zhang believes that the duel with the German will be very different to the one against Wilder anyway. “The boxers are different,” the southpaw from the Queensberry stable told “Boxingscene”. “You fight different guys and the strategy is different.” But his coach Shaun George and conditioning coach Dave “Scooter” Honig will prepare him for this. George is the brain and explains exactly what needs to be done differently. “I’ll be the enforcer,” says Zhang. “Whatever my coaches come up with, I will implement it.”
Text: Frank Schwantes