With Abass Baraou, Germany finally has a boxing world champion again. There could be more to come, as several German professionals are about to get a shot at the title or will soon be fighting for a world championship belt. BOXSPORT provides an overview.
World champion. Abass Baraou has achieved what every professional boxer dreams of. In a spectacular twelve-rounder, the 30-year-old was crowned WBA interim half-middleweight champion at the end of August in Orlando against Cuban Yoeniz Tellez. The “interim” disappeared a short time later when WBA ruler Terence Crawford set foot in the ring in Las Vegas to dethrone super-middleweight king Canelo Alvarez.
Unification with WBO champ Zayas?
“Now I have to remain world champion,” was Baraou’s motto in an interview with BOXSPORT. He has many options in the 69.85 kilogram limit. A title defense against US star Jermell Charlo, for example, or a unification fight against WBO champion Xander Zayas, who has set his sights on the German.
It remains to be seen whether Baraou will open his world championship chapter with Wasserman and the Sauerland brothers. The fight against Tellez was the last in the contract deal with Wasserman, said Baraou. “I am in contact with several promoters and am waiting for the best offer.” The man from the Ruhr has long since made a name for himself in the USA and England, but in Germany the (media) response to his World Championship success has unfortunately been largely absent.
Yet the situation in German professional boxing is anything but bleak. Baraou is not the only one who has reached the top and is among the world’s best. No fewer than five German boxing pros are sniffing out the world championship air, and two of them will get a shot at the title this year. BOXSPORT provides an overview of the title contenders from Germany.
AGIT KABAYEL
26-0 (18 knockouts), heavyweight, interim WBC world champion
The “Leberking” from Bochum has established himself in the top 5 in the heavyweight division with an impressive series of knockouts. In February, Kabayel chopped down Chinese colossus Zhilei Zhang in Riyadh and captured the interim WBC title. As such, the 33-year-old is entitled to a world championship fight against world champion Oleksandr Usyk. It is uncertain when this will happen. Usyk will not box again this year and must first fight the winner of the bout between Joseph Parker and Fabio Wardley (October 25) in 2026.
After three fights on the Saudi stage, Kabayel will climb back into the ring in Germany on January 10. In Oberhausen, he will face an opponent from the top 10 of the major federations, according to reports from the “Leberking” camp. If he wins, Kabayel will remain in a waiting position and could fight Usyk for the crown in 2026. However, the Ukrainian can choose his opponents on the home stretch of his career and no longer has to take belts and association statutes into consideration. Not an easy situation for Kabayel, who can also look forward to lucrative fights. According to information from BOXSPORT, plans are being made behind the scenes for a major summer event under the motto “England vs. If Kabayel wins in Oberhausen, he could face former champion Daniel Dubois, provided the Brit makes a successful comeback after his crushing defeat to Usyk.
NOEL MIKAELIAN
27-3 (12 knockouts), cruiserweight, No. 1 WBC
Noel Mikaelian has always been cheated by the judges in his big fights to date. In Riyadh, he lost the WBC World Championship fight against Badou Jack over twelve rounds on points – a controversial verdict, as Mikaelian had landed significantly more punches.
Nevertheless, a protest submitted to the WBC by Mikaelian’s team and promoter godfather Don King proved successful. The association ordered an immediate rematch, which will take place at the end of the year. “I have signed for December 13 in Los Angeles at the ‘Ace Mission Studios’,” Mikaelian told BOXSPORT. …
Text: Martin Armbruster
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