German boxing star Agit Kabayel and DFB forward Deniz Undav are connected not only by their Kurdish roots, but also by their exceptional athletic abilities.
While WBC interim champion Agit Kabayel continues to wait for the green light for his planned world title fight against Oleksandr Usyk, he’s back home rooting for his buddy Deniz Undav at the World Cup. “Whenever I’m away for a few weeks, I always want to go back home to Wattenscheid,” says the “Leberking” from the Ruhr region. There, Kabayel is currently cheering on the German national soccer team, which will play its final group-stage match against Ecuador at the World Cup on Thursday (10 p.m. CEST).
His buddy Deniz Undav, in particular, has played a major role in helping the German national team reach the knockout stage early in the tournament being held in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. Germany’s new “national goal-scoring sensation,” who has scored three goals and provided two assists at the World Cup so far, has Kurdish roots, just like Kabayel. “It really makes you proud to see him perform like that,” the heavyweight boxer told “ntv Sport.”
“Deniz is taking the lead now”
“We come from the same background; we’re both children of immigrants, both Kurds who represent Germany,” Kabayel tells the news portal. He also says he’s pleased that the country is back on the right track when it comes to integration— “and that certain issues are finally being acknowledged. Deniz is leading the way now, because soccer, of course, has an enormous reach.”
Undav is leading the way with the German national team, and Kabayel wants to follow suit—as soon as possible. As the WBC interim world champion and the number one contender in the rankings, he has long been entitled to a world title fight against champion Oleksandr Usyk. The Ukrainian has until June 30 to decide whether to accept the fight. If no agreement is reached in the negotiations by then, the fight will be put up for a purse bid.
“We are grateful to Germany”
Of course, Kabayel would love nothing more than a fight against Usyk. But if Usyk isn’t interested, “then the interim world champion really should be promoted to full world champion,” emphasizes Germany’s undefeated boxing hero. That would make the 33-year-old the long-awaited successor to Max Schmeling, who reigned as Germany’s only heavyweight champion to date from 1930 to 1932.
Whether they’re world champions or not (yet)—Agit Kabayel and Deniz Undav are currently bringing a lot of joy to their fans. “It’s just wonderful. We’re perfect examples of integration,” explains the Leberking. “I think I can speak for Deniz as well when I say: We’re extremely grateful to Germany.” Ultimately, Kabayel and Undav’s stories show that sports consistently lead the way when it comes to integration—and “it doesn’t matter at all what your background is,” as the professional boxer emphasizes.
Hopes for a Double World Championship
When Undav faces Ecuador with the national team on Thursday (June 25) at the World Cup, Kabayel will once again be rooting hard for his buddy. What sets Deniz apart as a soccer player? “He doesn’t do a lot of fancy stuff; he’s just a very good striker. Deniz is good at dropping deep to pick up balls from midfield.” Whatever he does, he does perfectly. Outstanding positioning, holding onto the ball when necessary, “and of course, control and finishing.” There’s just one thing left: “We hope to celebrate a double World Cup this year: Agit Kabayel, heavyweight world champion, and Germany, soccer world champion.”
Text: Frank Schwantes