Agit Kabayel, who was born in Bochum, is currently the great German boxing hope. Late on Saturday evening, the 33-year-old took a significant step closer to a fight for the World Cup crown. He successfully defended his WBC interim world championship belt.
On the long road to the big world championship fight, heavyweight Kabayel first had to clear the Pole Damian Knyba from the ring in Oberhausen in front of 13,000 spectators. He proved to be a tough and, above all, powerful opponent. After the first round, the German had to be treated for a cut on his right eye.
In lap three, Agit Kabayel really turns things up
With a flawless 26-0 record in his fights, Kabayel was the clear favorite, but did not live up to this role in the first round. The Pole, who had entered the ring with the recommendation of 17 victories, was ahead because he rarely let the German get into the inner fight. The second round was more balanced and in the third Kabayel put a big exclamation mark on his World Cup ambitions.
We showed the world that German boxing is alive.
Agit Kabayel after defeating Damian Knyba
The German didn’t let Knyba calm down with several combinations of hits to the head and body. He was quicker on his feet, evading the greater reach of the Pole, who was about ten centimeters taller, and hit him with short sequences of blows. After 2 minutes and 36 seconds, the Riong judge finally intervened and stopped the fight.
Kabayel promoter Warren hopes to fight in the football stadium
Kabayel was declared the winner by technical knockout and has thus positioned himself: He is ready to fight “for the World Cup,” said the 33-year-old after his victory. So in the end, defending the title as WBC interim world champion was the expected mandatory task. 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 Alexander Usyk (Ukraine) had not yet taken place. Kabayel’s promoter George Warren had already emphasized before the fight that he would “put a lot of pressure on the WBC from Monday so that Agit gets the chance for the title.” If Kabayel delivers a “super knockout”, “then we’ll come back to Germany in the summer. This time to a football stadium and maybe we’ll get a British heavyweight before he fights Usyk.”
I really have goosebumps, it reminds me of the good old boxing days.
DAZN expert and former world champion Regina Halmich
Kabayel’s victory in Oberhausen doesn’t qualify as a “super knockout”, but it was at least a pretty quick technical knockout for the German. Kabayel wants to become the first German heavyweight world champion since Max Schmeling in the early 1930s. Before the success in Oberhausen, the self-proclaimed “Liver King” had recommended himself for a world championship fight with three convincing victories in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
fans and Former world champion Halm excited about Kabayel
Now it remains to be seen how the WBC reacts to Kabayel’s next exclamation mark in the ring. For the Bochum native, the appearance in Oberhausen was his first fight in Germany after almost three years. He certainly wouldn’t mind getting back in the ring in his home country in the summer.
He definitely thrilled the fans in Oberhausen just as much as former world champion Regina Halmich: “Boxing in Germany is alive again – and that feels so good,” said the DAZN expert.
Our sources:
- Boxing match between Agit Kabayel and Damian Knyba on January 10th, 2026 in Oberhausen
- News agencies sid dpa
Broadcast: “Agit Kabayel defends interim title”, WDR.deJanuary 10, 2016, 11:21 p.m
