Unbeaten in 25 fights, Agit Kabayel has arrived at the top of the world rankings. The independent portal “BoxRec” now ranks him third in the world heavyweight rankings.
For German heavyweight star Agit Kabayel, Christmas came a day early this year. Since Sunday, the “BoxRec” portal has ranked him third in the heavyweight world rankings. The reason: Tyson Fury slipped down the rankings after his second defeat against Oleksandr Usyk. Kabayel is now behind the world champions Usyk and Daniel Dubois.
This success is a special honor for the still unbeaten boxer from Bochum. With 25 victories (17 knockouts) in 25 fights, Kabayel has arrived at the top of the world rankings. But the new ranking also brings pressure. On February 22, he will face Zhilei Zhang in Riyadh. With a win, Kabayel could win the WBC interim title and position himself as a world championship challenger.
Agit Kabayel: The way to the top of the world
Kabayel has worked hard for this success. In recent months, he has caused a stir with two early victories. He defeated the previously unbeaten Arslanbek Makhmudov and Frank Sanchez, both by knockout. These performances show that Kabayel is a force to be reckoned with in the heavyweight division.
“Of course I’m delighted that I’m now one of the three best in the world,” Kabayel told the BILD newspaper. “But it’s also an obligation to beat Zhang in February. I want to continue to make Germany proud.” On February 22, Agit Kabayel will now have the chance to take another step towards his dream of winning the World Championship title at the next edition of the Riyadh Season. That’s when he will face China’s Zhilei Zhang in the WBC eliminator at the Kingdom Arena.
The fight against Zhang as a signpost
Zhilei Zhang is not an easy opponent. The 41-year-old recently made headlines with a spectacular knockout against Deontay Wilder. But Kabayel is prepared. With 17 knockouts in 25 fights, he also has the necessary punching power. A victory in Riyadh would bring him closer to the heavyweight crown.
Agit Kabayel with big goals
Kabayel is one of the few undefeated athletes in the world’s top 10, a status that underlines his exceptional status. With the WBC interim title, he would be in a strong negotiating position for a world championship fight against Usyk or Dubois. His goal is clear: Kabayel wants to become the first German heavyweight world champion in decades. For his impressive performance in the past calendar year, BOXSPORT also nominated Agit Kabayel for “Boxer of the Year 2024”. Download our app now for free and vote!
Text: Andreas Ohlberger
Now in BOXSPORT 06/25:
Shields, Taylor, Serrano & Co. – who are the best “Pound for Pound“? And where does the German undisputed champion Tina Rupprecht stand in the ultimate ranking? Plus: 25-year-old Devrim Gökduman has fought his way to the top of the national lightweight rankings. Plus: Junto Nakatani was long overshadowed by P4P superstar Inoue – Japan’s quiet boxing sensation now has a place in the limelight himself. And: BOXSPORT on the steep rise of the Fundora siblings. Plus lots of stories, analysis, rankings, fight reports and much more.