It’s been a long time since the hype surrounding a German boxing event was as big as Agit Kabayel’s “homecoming”. How important is this fight on Saturday (January 10) for the “Leberking”? Who is his opponent? And who else is fighting that evening? BOXSPORT answers the most important questions about the mega-fight.
Why is the boxing event called “Homecoming” – and where does it take place?
Agit Kabayel last stood in a German ring on March 4, 2023: he won a spectacular fight in Bochum’s RuhrCongress by T.K.O. (3rd round) against Agron Smakici and became European champion for the second time. The heavyweight hero from Bochum won all three of his subsequent fights at the “Riyadh Season” in Saudi Arabia. This is why the boxing event is now being held under the slogan “Homecoming”. The Rudolf-Weber-Arena in Oberhausen was chosen because Kabayel sees himself as a child of the Ruhr region. The location was available for January 10 and has an impressive capacity of 13,000 seats.
What significance does the event have for German professional boxing?
The homecoming is a strong signal for German professional boxing, which has lost international visibility in recent years. It is also the biggest boxing event in Germany since Wladimir Klitschko lost to Tyson Fury in Düsseldorf in 2015. Now the spotlight will be on Kabayel, a German heavyweight who is one of the world’s top athletes. “I’m ready to make all the people who are there proud on this day – and all the people who are watching at home should realize: German boxing is alive and well and we’re keeping the flag flying,” announced Germany’s “Boxer of the Year” (2023 and 2024).
What status does Kabayel enjoy as interim WBC world champion?
As interim champion of the WBC, Kabayel is the “deputy” of reigning heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk – and also his number one challenger. This means that the Ukrainian has a duty to defend his title against the Leberking. So far, however, Usyk has not announced his intention to do so. Should he not fulfill his duty …
Text: Frank Schwantes
The complete story on “Homecoming” by Agit Kabayel can be found in the current issue of BOXSPORT! From now on in the BOXSPORT app! Click here to subscribe!