Heavyweight title fight
Lightning knockout in a mega fight: boxing triumph for Kabayel
Updated on January 10, 2026 – 11:12 p.mReading time: 3 minutes
Agit Kabayel has early problems with his previously unbeaten opponent – but fights back and ends the fight quickly. Now the next highlight could wait.
Agit Kabayel defended his interim WBC heavyweight world title in front of a full house in the Rudolf Weber Arena in Oberhausen. The German beat Poland’s Damian Knyba by technical knockout in the third round on Saturday evening. With his 27th win in his 27th professional fight, Kabayel underlined his claim to a fight for the heavyweight crown. A duel with the unbeaten champion Oleksandr Usyk (Ukraine) had not yet taken place.
In the Rudolf Weber Arena, which was sold out with 13,000 spectators, Kabayel initially got into the fight slowly. The self-proclaimed “Liver King”, who had positioned himself for a world championship fight with three convincing victories in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, once again went to great lengths on his body. The tall Pole (2.01 m), in turn, gave Kabayel a cut above the right eye and tried to keep his opponent at a distance with his immense reach.
The audience loudly supported Kabayel – and the favorite got better and better in the fight. Kabayel was now much more aggressive and repeatedly scored hits that had a visible effect. The referee pulled the ripcord in the third round.
The fight to read in the ticker:
After the fight – “If I could choose…” Kabayel asks the cheering audience. “I think I’m ready to box for the World Championships. What do you think?” It is quite possible that he is now actually targeting heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk.
After the fight – “I’m so happy. We showed the world that German boxing is alive,” says Kabayel directly in the ring after the fight.
Round 3 – That’s it! Kabayel continues to become more active and keeps trying combinations. But Knyba continues to keep him at a good distance. Kabayel has to watch out for Knyba’s uppercut. Then a right from Kabayel to the head, now Knyba also has a cut on his eye. Another right to the head, Knyba is battered and staggers. Kabayel immediately follows up. Knyba is defenseless. The referee stops the fight in the third round! Agit Kabayel wins by technical knockout! Knyba and his corner protest directly against the demolition, which came too soon for them. But the decision stands.
Round 2 – Kabayel simply stays too close to his opponent and keeps receiving hits. Then a nice combination from the 33-year-old – but Knyba immediately countered with his own goals. Kabayel has difficulty getting into the infight. Knyba manages time and time again to immediately answer his opponent’s hits with hits of his own. But: Kabayel was more active in this round, but that’s not enough to win a round. There has to be more to come. 10:8 Knyba.