The German professional boxer Agit Kabayel can hope for an early World Cup fight after the next statement victory.
The heavyweight from Bochum won the elimination fight of the WBC association on Saturday in Riyadh against the Chinese Zhoei Zhang by Ko in the sixth round and is now entitled to a fight against world champion Alexander Usyk as a compulsory challenger. The 32-year-old celebrated the 26th victory in the 26th professional fight and crowned the WBC interim champion. Zhang received his third defeat in his 31st fight.
Kabayel continues to walk to Max Schmeling’s traces, who was the only German on the heavyweight throne almost 100 years ago. However, it is open whether a fight against Usyk really comes about – an association fight with IBF world champion Daniel Dubois could be more financially lucrative for the Ukrainian.
Before the eyes of Usyk and ex-world champion Anthony Joshua, Kabayel put in the first rounds on his dreaded blows to the body, which had brought him the nickname “Leberking”.
The Bochum was the clearly more active boxer and was looking for the ring center, the 41 -year -old Chinese had struggled with conditional problems early – but then hit Kabayel to the ground in round five with his huge left. The German struggled, went to the body in round six – and crumbled Zhang crucial. The Chinese went down and was counted.
Kabayel, who had previously been a European champion twice, had become impressive with impressive successes against the previously unbeaten Arslanbek Machmudow (Russia) and Frank Sanchez (Cuba) in the world leaders – and now underpinned his World Cup claim.