Frank Sanchez vs. Agit Kabayel - May 18, 2024

[Ruthless-RKO]

Frank Sanchez vs. Agit Kabayel: WBC Orders Heavyweight Elimination Bout

Two heavyweights who produced impressive victories on the “Day of Reckoning” undercard December 23 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia have been ordered to fight next by the WBC.

BS.com has learned that the Mexico City-based sanctioning organization has initiated a voluntary negotiating period between representatives for Frank Sanchez and Agit Kabayel. Cuba’s Sanchez (24-0, 17 KOs) is the WBC’s second-ranked contender for Tyson Fury’s title and Germany’s Kabayel (24-0, 16 KOs) is ranked fourth.

Anthony Joshua is the WBC’s number one-ranked heavyweight contender, but England’s Joshua (27-3, 24 KOs) could fight Croatian contender Filip Hrgovic (17-0, 14 KOs) later this year for the IBF title if the winner between Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs) and Oleksandr Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) on February 17 at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh is stripped of the IBF belt. Hrgovic is ranked number one by the IBF, two spots atop the third-rated Joshua, and the second spot is vacant.

Former WBO champ Joseph Parker (34-3, 23 KOs) is ranked third by the WBC, but he has a challenging fight scheduled for March 8 at Kingdom Arena. Parker will encounter gigantic Chinese southpaw Zhang Zhilei (26-1-1, 21 KOs), who owns the WBO interim championship, in the pay-per-view co-feature that night.

If Parker were to beat Zhang, he would, as the WBO interim champ, be eliminated from the WBC’s rankings. If Parker loses to Zhang, he will presumably drop down in the WBC’s ratings.

If Joshua, who will face Francis Ngannou in the main event March 8, and Parker are eliminated from the mix to fight for the WBC belt, an intriguing bout between Sanchez and Kabayel would determine the next mandatory challenger for the WBC title. Should their handlers reach an agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Turki Alalshikh, Sanchez-Kabayel could be part of a card preliminarily planned for June 1 at Kingdom Arena.

Sanchez, 31, stopped New Zealand’s Junior Fa (20-3, 11 KOs) in the seventh round of their fight on the Joshua-Otto Wallin undercard December 23 at Kingdom Arena. Kabayel, also 31, recorded the most noteworthy win of his career later that night when he dropped previously unbeaten Russian contender Arslanbek Makhmudov (18-1, 17 KOs) three times, all with body shots, to win by fourth-round technical knockout.

[gregregegg]

This is such a bad good fight

[Lackeos]

This is good. Pretty even match-up between two somewhat proven guys. It's been a long wait for these two guys to finally get their careers in gear. Btw, lol @ boxrec for ranking Sanchez 9 spots below Ajagba. They literally have Sanchez below Ryad Merhy, and he'd kill Merhy.

[joshj909]

Good fight on paper, terrible in action I imagine. Winner will be deserving of a final eliminator.

[CMCanavessi]

Great fight!

[KiwiRider]

I don't mind this at all.
It might end up being a snoozer, here's hoping it doesn't.
The winner will definitely be deserving of a shot at the WBC belt.
Unfortunately the WBC have their own set of rules over and above the ones in writing, so we will see how this eventuates.

[SportsRatings]

Wow..not sure I like this happening, even though I always cheer the prospect of undefeated guys face each other. But not this one!

It's interesting though, Sanchez's fights are always boring, while Kabayel's are always interesting. Something's gotta give.

The problem for Kabayel is he thrives on being underestimated. But Sanchez never underestimates anyone, he overestimates the mildest journeyman and treats him like a dangerous killer. Hard to see Kabayel having much of an opening while Sanchez cautiously picks away like he does.

[funso banjo baby]

There are more sensible fights for both.
But I doubt this happens. WBC `order` a fight ???

[SeanBrennan]

I'd like this, Agit KO for me.

[tennessee]

This a tough matchup for these guys. Ill lean toward Sanchez in a close fight.

[jwfg]

Great fight!

x2

[KiwiRider]

I'd like this, Agit KO for me.

Agit will have to catch the Cuban Flash clean to do that. Sanchez is a slippery bugger.

[SeanBrennan]

I'd like this, Agit KO for me.

Agit will have to catch the Cuban Flash clean to do that. Sanchez is a slippery bugger.

Hi Kiwi - my predictions are usually wrong, I'd just like to see Agit win. I tipped Audley to KO Haye so clearly know my stuff....

[KiwiRider]

I'd like this, Agit KO for me.

Agit will have to catch the Cuban Flash clean to do that. Sanchez is a slippery bugger.

Hi Kiwi - my predictions are usually wrong, I'd just like to see Agit win. I tipped Audley to KO Haye so clearly know my stuff....

The stars in the night sky pale beside your Illuminessence, oh illustrious one.

[SeanBrennan]

Agit will have to catch the Cuban Flash clean to do that. Sanchez is a slippery bugger.

Hi Kiwi - my predictions are usually wrong, I'd just like to see Agit win. I tipped Audley to KO Haye so clearly know my stuff....

The stars in the night sky pale beside your Illuminessence, oh illustrious one.

Hahahahaha

[JxhDel.]

Sanchez is no Makhmudov, Agit is really solid but still affordable for Frank.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight Week!!

[Ruthless-RKO]

[funso banjo baby]

Great fight. Best on the bill by far

[cormack]

am feeling kabayel will repeat what he did last time out and get a KO

[KiwiRider]

I still think Sanchez dances rings around Kabayel and puts out a close but decisive points win.
The Cuban flash has the second best footwork in the division behind Uysk.

[joshj909]

I still think Sanchez dances rings around Kabayel and puts out a close but decisive points win.
The Cuban flash has the second best footwork in the division behind Uysk.

I agree. He also doesn't make many mistakes. A very Cuban low-risk style whereas Kabayel got caught a lot against Smakici and looked in trouble.

[Bobbyptsd]

am feeling kabayel will repeat what he did last time out and get a KO

Oh yeah, Arslanbek Mahmoudov and Frank Sanchez, two peas in a pod, might as well be the same guy really they're so similar.

[cormack]

am feeling kabayel will repeat what he did last time out and get a KO

Oh yeah, Arslanbek Mahmoudov and Frank Sanchez, two peas in a pod, might as well be the same guy really they're so similar.

you cant read

[DrDuke]

Last hour prediction Sanchez by TKO.