Agit Kabayel vs. TBA | DAZN - TBC

[Ruthless-RKO]

Franķ Ŵarren has revealed to The Ring that Agit Kabayel is set for a quick turnaround, as they are planning for him to return to Germany in May following his victory over Damian Knyba in January.

[Ruthless-RKO]

FRAŇK ŴARREŅ LOOKS AHEAD WITH DUBOIS, GERMAN SENSATION KABAYEL

Another heavyweight hoping for a big year is Germany's Agit Kabayel (27-0, 19 KOs).

The 33-year-old has held the WBC interim title since stopping China's Zhilei Zhang in February 2025 but has been waiting to see which direction unified champion Usyk decides to move in.

Rather than let Kabayel sit on the sidelines accumulating rust, Queensberry decided to keep him active and last month, took him home for a fight against previously-unbeaten Damian Knyba, who he stopped in three rounds.

The arena in Oberhausen sold out within minutes and the event was so successful that Warren is already looking forward to a quick return to Germany. It is rumored that Kabayel will box British opposition.

Kabayel still has no idea when his world title shot will arrive but it is far easier to sit and wait for an opportunity when thousands of fans are willing to come and watch you stay busy.

"We had the balls to go there, do it and take that chance," the Hall of Fame promoter said.

"Going back a long time, there's always been a lot of love for boxing in Germany and they've got a hero. The arena sold out in just over a day. He's fighting in May and we're going for a bigger venue next time."

[Ruthless-RKO]

Quick turnaround is good but doesn’t fill me with confidence.

Feels more like Frank is trying to milk Agit’s status in Germany and the sold out arenas.

Let’s hope we get an opponent soon, Cus the earlier the announcement the better the opponent usually is.

[tigermoth87]

Ridiculous that he hasn't got a World Title shot yet despite having the second best record in the division, whereas FRAUDLEY gets gifted a world title and immediately goes sniffing his snout around for the easiest and softest defence he can find.

If Fraudley doesn't immediately seek out Kabayel for a defence, then it is a blatant DUCK.

[Taansend]

I was chatting to a mate yesterday & we were saying it could be Okolie or Riakporhe, either of which we're ok with.

[margaret thatcher]

lmao,

a fight in january and a fight in may, 4 months apart, is considered quick turnaround? i guess that's how slow boxing is these days...

[mickey1975]

Weird how Usyk looks like he's going to box a kickboxer when the Kabayel fight would be huge in Europe. The whole of Germany and Turkey would be behind him (I know he's Kurdish). It's not long ago Usyk was happy to fight in Poland with tickets starting at £9.

[joshj909]

Ridiculous that he hasn't got a World Title shot yet despite having the second best record in the division, whereas FRAUDLEY gets gifted a world title and immediately goes sniffing his snout around for the easiest and softest defence he can find.

If Fraudley doesn't immediately seek out Kabayel for a defence, then it is a blatant DUCK.

He's interim WBC champion...

[joshj909]

Possible opponents that are WBC ranked and not tied up elsewhere:
Okolie, Itauma, Hrgovic, Ajagba, Bakole, Zhang, Torrez, Jalolov, Vianello, Anderson.

Was Knyba ranked? If not, I could see a Hysa or a Camkiran being picked. Maybe a Milas, Kadiru or Alexander Frank.

[Ruthless-RKO]

lmao,

a fight in january and a fight in may, 4 months apart, is considered quick turnaround? i guess that's how slow boxing is these days...

You should know by today's standards and HW’s.. yes, unfortunately. That’s a quick turnaround.

[Taansend]

Ridiculous that he hasn't got a World Title shot yet despite having the second best record in the division, whereas FRAUDLEY gets gifted a world title and immediately goes sniffing his snout around for the easiest and softest defence he can find.

If Fraudley doesn't immediately seek out Kabayel for a defence, then it is a blatant DUCK.

Mate, I don't get your ire towards Fabio.

What did he do?

[tigermoth87]

Mate, I don't get your ire towards Fabio.

What did he do?

Got gifted a world title he doesn't deserve and is now swanning around like he's cock of the walk and thinking Usyk is ducking him. If he showed some class and decorem and some humility, I might not dislike him so much. But he clearly thinks he is it after getting a dodgy stoppage over Parker and then handed the world title on a plate.

[Taansend]

Mate, I don't get your ire towards Fabio.

What did he do?

Got gifted a world title he doesn't deserve and is now swanning around like he's cock of the walk and thinking Usyk is ducking him. If he showed some class and decorem and some humility, I might not dislike him so much. But he clearly thinks he is it after getting a dodgy stoppage over Parker and then handed the world title on a plate.

Sorry, I should have been clearer. I'm talking about Fabio WARDLEY not this bloke.

[gilgamesh]

How does he think he is IT? I haven't heard him say he's the #1 guy in the division over Usyk or anything of the sort. He's being treated like a Star in the sport, and a major name in the Heavyweight division all of which he's earned for himself in the last year. He wasn't a Top 10 Heavyweight in the eyes of most coming into 2025. Now he's #1 or at worst #2 or 3 according to all here in early 2026. That's nothing to scoff at.

He still has much to prove if he wants to show us that he's The Champion, but he's already proven that he's an excited fighter who always gives it his all, and fights like a guy who is either gonna knock you out or go down trying.

I don't get what's not to like honestly. There's no Boxer in the sport currently who I want to see fight more than Fabio Wardley. There are more talented and more decorated guys certainly, but there aren't guys who consistently deliver more exciting fights or more action than him.

[Ruthless-RKO]

WBC: Usyk must fight Kabayel after voluntary defense

WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has said Ring, IBF, WBA, and WBC heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk must defend his titles the German, their interim beltholder, after a voluntary defense.

Kabayel has been in possession of interim belt since stopping Zhilei Zhang in the sixth round a year ago.

Kabayel has waited patiently for his opportunity and was last in action against Damian Knyba, stopping him in the third round on January 10. Usyk hasn't fought since last July when he stopped Daniel Dubois and has been nursing a back injury since.

“Kabayel was not available because he had a fight scheduled in January,” Sulaiman told Chris Mannix. “So [Usyk] requested a voluntary title defense which is very customary. He was given that opportunity and he must fight the interim champion next. That’s the ruling.”

It remains to be seen who Usyk will take on next after originally sought-after opponent Deontay Wilder elected for a clash with Derek Chisora instead.

One thing's for sure; after Usyk fights his voluntary it's Kabayel or vacate.

[joshj909]

WBC: Usyk must fight Kabayel after voluntary defense

WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has said Ring, IBF, WBA, and WBC heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk must defend his titles the German, their interim beltholder, after a voluntary defense.

Kabayel has been in possession of interim belt since stopping Zhilei Zhang in the sixth round a year ago.

Kabayel has waited patiently for his opportunity and was last in action against Damian Knyba, stopping him in the third round on January 10. Usyk hasn't fought since last July when he stopped Daniel Dubois and has been nursing a back injury since.

“Kabayel was not available because he had a fight scheduled in January,” Sulaiman told Chris Mannix. “So [Usyk] requested a voluntary title defense which is very customary. He was given that opportunity and he must fight the interim champion next. That’s the ruling.”

It remains to be seen who Usyk will take on next after originally sought-after opponent Deontay Wilder elected for a clash with Derek Chisora instead.

One thing's for sure; after Usyk fights his voluntary it's Kabayel or vacate.

Who is even left for Usyk before Kabayel? Most others are getting things scheduled

[mickey1975]

WBC: Usyk must fight Kabayel after voluntary defense

WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has said Ring, IBF, WBA, and WBC heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk must defend his titles the German, their interim beltholder, after a voluntary defense.

Kabayel has been in possession of interim belt since stopping Zhilei Zhang in the sixth round a year ago.

Kabayel has waited patiently for his opportunity and was last in action against Damian Knyba, stopping him in the third round on January 10. Usyk hasn't fought since last July when he stopped Daniel Dubois and has been nursing a back injury since.

“Kabayel was not available because he had a fight scheduled in January,” Sulaiman told Chris Mannix. “So [Usyk] requested a voluntary title defense which is very customary. He was given that opportunity and he must fight the interim champion next. That’s the ruling.”

It remains to be seen who Usyk will take on next after originally sought-after opponent Deontay Wilder elected for a clash with Derek Chisora instead.

One thing's for sure; after Usyk fights his voluntary it's Kabayel or vacate.

Who is even left for Usyk before Kabayel? Most others are getting things scheduled

Rico Verhoren.

[paultom]

Ridiculous that he hasn't got a World Title shot yet despite having the second best record in the division, whereas FRAUDLEY gets gifted a world title and immediately goes sniffing his snout around for the easiest and softest defence he can find.

If Fraudley doesn't immediately seek out Kabayel for a defence, then it is a blatant DUCK.

If you think fighting one of the biggest punchers in the division is the easiest option then you know nothing about boxing. Tell me one fighter that would turn down a major world title after just stopping one of the best heavies around ?.

[THEBUTCH]

"Quick turnaround" = 4 months

While Kabayel didn't look great when beating Knyba, it wasn't overly demanding and all done & dusted within 3 rounds.

It really should be Usyk v Kabayel next. Oleksander can then walk off into the sunset with nothing more to prove and Agit finally gets his big opportunity.

[Wales]

Mate, I don't get your ire towards Fabio.

What did he do?

Got gifted a world title he doesn't deserve and is now swanning around like he's cock of the walk and thinking Usyk is ducking him. If he showed some class and decorem and some humility, I might not dislike him so much. But he clearly thinks he is it after getting a dodgy stoppage over Parker and then handed the world title on a plate.

Usyk did duck him!
he vacated the belt rather than fight the mandatory challenger which was Wardley??

Vacating your belt to avoid fighting the mandatory challenger is text book ducking

[Wales]

If Fraudley doesn't immediately seek out Kabayel for a defence, then it is a blatant DUCK.

Kabayel isn’t ranked in the WBOs top 15. The Champion must fight opponent within the top 15. So even if he wanted to he couldn’t.

[Ruthless-RKO]

If Fraudley doesn't immediately seek out Kabayel for a defence, then it is a blatant DUCK.

Kabayel isn’t ranked in the WBOs top 15. The Champion must fight opponent within the top 15. So even if he wanted to he couldn’t.

Would need to be a voluntary.

[Wales]

As a side, with all this ducking hoo ha.

Wardley (and other fighters) have a team - you know managers and promoters etc… who deal with matcmakijg and the likes.

Now if you were a promoter making 10% off a fighter like Wardley why would you risk your asset / cash cow before milking it as much as possible..

Ricky Hatton went 38-0 before fighting a top 10 opponent. He held the WBU nonsense title but was selling out arenas and millions watching at home. allegedly wasn’t going to throw his golden goose n with a cotto or a mayweather when he can make a fortune putting him in with plant pots. Calzaghe the same. Look at the guys they didn’t fight. Those fights could’ve been made . But instead of Roy Jones Jnr in Cardiff it was Peter Manfredo.

Fighters don’t suck, but promoters and management teams do.

I don’t know Wardley but I’m 99.9% sure he’d fight Usyk or Kabayel tomorrow if he was told that’s what was happening

[Wales]

If Fraudley doesn't immediately seek out Kabayel for a defence, then it is a blatant DUCK.

Kabayel isn’t ranked in the WBOs top 15. The Champion must fight opponent within the top 15. So even if he wanted to he couldn’t.

Would need to be a voluntary.

A voluntary must be within the governing bodies top 15 ranked fighters . Mandatory would be their number 1 ranked fighter .

Basically a voluntary can’t be any Tom dick or Harry. It has to be someone ranked in their top 15.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Kabayel isn’t ranked in the WBOs top 15. The Champion must fight opponent within the top 15. So even if he wanted to he couldn’t.

Would need to be a voluntary.

A voluntary must be within the governing bodies top 15 ranked fighters . Mandatory would be their number 1 ranked fighter .

Basically a voluntary can’t be any Tom dick or Harry. It has to be someone ranked in their top 15.

Voluntary unification. They can fight other champions. I know he’s only interim, but they’d probably allow it. Like they allowed Parker/Wardley.