BoxRec

Announced: Agit Kabayel defends his WBC heavyweight title against Nelson Hysa on November 28th at Merkur Spiel-Arena, Dussesldorf, Germany, live on DAZN

Waste of time?

I mean. He fought 3 rounds in January. That’s it.

Let’s hope we get unification next year.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑01 Oct 2026, 09:16 Waste of time?

I mean. He fought 3 rounds in January. That’s it.

Let’s hope we get unification next year.

WBC don't enforce mandatories and Kabayel isn't the biggest name so Frank wouldn't want him to beat any of his money makers so we might get Frank choose him as an opponent for one of his other champs or we'll see Kabayel defend against another scrub late next year.

Frank was happy with how well he sold in Germany in Jan.

If he can rinse some German defences out it him m, he’ll do that. Get his moneys worth.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑01 Oct 2026, 10:03 Frank was happy with how well he sold in Germany in Jan.

If he can rinse some German defences out it him m, he’ll do that. Get his moneys worth.

I imagine his chosen challengers after Hysa will be Xhoxhaj and Novytskyi

Hopefully there will be a decent undercard for this event.

I have no idea who this is

I reckon the plan was for Vianello to face Kabayel.

Vianello was ranked WBC #14 in August, and if he had beaten Jolly decisively on the Itauma v Hrgovic undercard, the WBC could have easily pushed him up to #10. Unfortunately for Warren, Vianello put in an underwhelming performance against a very game Jolly. Tanking any interest in him and his ranking (now #19).

So thinking on their feet, Warren has gone with Hysa who stopped Narmo in the next fight on the card. The shiny 25(23)-0-0 record making it slightly easier to sell. And I wonder if they are using a loop hole of Hysa holding the WBO Global Heavy title, after the WBC and WBO formed closer ties last year, as it doesn't make sense that Hysa, who isn't even ranked by the WBC, is fighting for their title.

But yeah... I strongly suspect Vianello was the intended "top 10" opponent until he drew with Jolly. Not WBO top 10, Hysa.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑29 Sep 2026, 12:56 Agit Kabayel vs Nelson Hysa will reportedly take place in the 54,000+ capacity Merkur Spiel-Arena in Düsseldorf home to 3. Liga side Fortuna Düsseldorf

Kabeyel is a top-four guy today, but the division is a mess. Boxing needs his first title defense to be against a known, credible opponent not a never-was fighter who is over 40. Who has even seen or heard of Hysa?

Leave it to the Germans to pack their own house so Kabeyel can make his first title defense against a cakewalk.

ldlamb wrote: ↑01 Oct 2026, 19:31 I have no idea who this is

He actually isn't that bad. He doesn't rush his punches, has a good stance, and does possess some power. I don't think he's a world beater or anything. I kinda like him but I'm always cheering on those older guys.

2362656 wrote: ↑04 Oct 2026, 00:32 He actually isn't that bad. He doesn't rush his punches, has a good stance, and does possess some power. I don't think he's a world beater or anything. I kinda like him but I'm always cheering on those older guys.

He defended a heavyweight belt against a 180 lbs former middleweight and still needed six rounds to stop him. Some puncher.

Launch presser

Kabayel won't feel like legit champ until first full defense

Agit Kabayel admits his position as WBC heavyweight champion will only feel real once he defends his title for the first time.

The 34-year-old German, The Ring’s No. 2 contender for Oleksandr Usyk’s crown, will put his green and gold belt on the line against Nelson Hysa (25-0, 23 KOs) at Dusseldorf’s ESPRIT Arena on November 28, live on DAZN.

It will be Kabayel’s first fight since he was elevated from interim belt-holder to full WBC champion following Usyk’s decision in June to vacate the last three of his sanctioning body belts.

During an interview with Louis Hart for The Ring’s YouTube channel, Kabayel (27-0, 19 KOs) stated the fact he achieved his dream of becoming world heavyweight champion will only truly “sink in” once he is victorious inside the ring.

“Maybe after this fight, definitely, it will feel like that,” Kabayel said. “Usyk gave up all of his belts and this is my first fight since then. After the fight I will feel very great.

“You see the situation with the heavyweights – all the interim champions were moved up when Usyk [gave] up all his belts. So, I think after this fight, I will be happy, more happy than now.”

Kabayel had hoped to win the title by dethroning Usyk and pushed hard for a fight with the unbeaten Ukrainian southpaw. Usyk ultimately decided against fulfilling any of his mandatory obligations by relinquishing all his titles in a move that sent shockwaves through the boxing world.

“I tried everything,” Kabayel said. “I made so much noise, I made videos on Instagram, I called him out and I went to Egypt. And after his fight [with Rico Verhoeven], I asked him for the chance to fight him.

“I think I did everything that was in my hands. The fight cannot happen, so I only focus on myself. Now I will show what comes in the future.”

Regardless of Usyk’s decision not to fight him, Kabayel has emerged as a huge star of the division and one of the biggest ticket-sellers in all of world boxing.

More than 35,000 of the 43,000 available for his clash with Albania’s Hysa are said to have been snapped up already. Kabayel’s promoter, allegedly, expects a sellout for this optional title defense versus Hysa.

The last time ESPRIT Arena hosted world championship boxing was in November 2015. Tyson Fury ushered in a new era for the heavyweight division that night, when he became the first man to beat Wladimir Klitschko in more than 11 years.
More than a decade later, Kabayel is ready to signal the start of another chapter.

“This is my era,” he said. “The Kabayel era. We have brought boxing back to Germany and so many boxers have written to me on Instagram to say, ‘Thank you for bringing boxing back to Germany.’ For a long time we have not had big fights here, but now, this is great.”

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑Yesterday, 07:29 Kabayel won't feel like legit champ until first full defense

Agit Kabayel admits his position as WBC heavyweight champion will only feel real once he defends his title for the first time.

The 34-year-old German, The Ring’s No. 2 contender for Oleksandr Usyk’s crown, will put his green and gold belt on the line against Nelson Hysa (25-0, 23 KOs) at Dusseldorf’s ESPRIT Arena on November 28, live on DAZN.

It will be Kabayel’s first fight since he was elevated from interim belt-holder to full WBC champion following Usyk’s decision in June to vacate the last three of his sanctioning body belts.

During an interview with Louis Hart for The Ring’s YouTube channel, Kabayel (27-0, 19 KOs) stated the fact he achieved his dream of becoming world heavyweight champion will only truly “sink in” once he is victorious inside the ring.

“Maybe after this fight, definitely, it will feel like that,” Kabayel said. “Usyk gave up all of his belts and this is my first fight since then. After the fight I will feel very great.

“You see the situation with the heavyweights – all the interim champions were moved up when Usyk [gave] up all his belts. So, I think after this fight, I will be happy, more happy than now.”

Kabayel had hoped to win the title by dethroning Usyk and pushed hard for a fight with the unbeaten Ukrainian southpaw. Usyk ultimately decided against fulfilling any of his mandatory obligations by relinquishing all his titles in a move that sent shockwaves through the boxing world.

“I tried everything,” Kabayel said. “I made so much noise, I made videos on Instagram, I called him out and I went to Egypt. And after his fight [with Rico Verhoeven], I asked him for the chance to fight him.

“I think I did everything that was in my hands. The fight cannot happen, so I only focus on myself. Now I will show what comes in the future.”

Regardless of Usyk’s decision not to fight him, Kabayel has emerged as a huge star of the division and one of the biggest ticket-sellers in all of world boxing.

More than 35,000 of the 43,000 available for his clash with Albania’s Hysa are said to have been snapped up already. Kabayel’s promoter, allegedly, expects a sellout for this optional title defense versus Hysa.

The last time ESPRIT Arena hosted world championship boxing was in November 2015. Tyson Fury ushered in a new era for the heavyweight division that night, when he became the first man to beat Wladimir Klitschko in more than 11 years.
More than a decade later, Kabayel is ready to signal the start of another chapter.

“This is my era,” he said. “The Kabayel era. We have brought boxing back to Germany and so many boxers have written to me on Instagram to say, ‘Thank you for bringing boxing back to Germany.’ For a long time we have not had big fights here, but now, this is great.”

So according to this article Tyson Fury ushered in a new era in heavyweight boxing 'after beating Wladimir Kiltschko, and then disappearing for the rematch unfortunately due to his then circumstance'.

Note: It was Anthony Joshua who conclusively initiated a new dynasty in heavyweight boxing 17 months later 'because in reality? He was the man who stepped up and faced the version of Wladimir Kiltschko who Fury should have fought in their rematch'.

Wladimir Kiltscko was in better condition vs. Anthony Joshua 'and had to endure three back to back training camps, before he eventually commenced in battle'.

Anthony Joshua finished what Tyson Fury started 'and scored a more conclusive win over Wladimir Kiltschko in the greatest heavyweight title fight of the past 25 years'.

And in regards to Agit Kabayel 'he has been a professional fighter, for a longer period of time than Anthony Joshua. He was a complete non-factor during the peak years of this heavyweight era, and? He has only been able to acquire a World title due to the era being in its conclusive stages and the competitive terrain clearly decreasing'.

I would back both Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua to smash him to pieces even at this stage of their careers etc.

No one can claim that Hysa is an OK opponent. He has a shamefully padded record scraping the bottom. And this somehow got him world rankings? Utter pants

Kabayel is a poor WBC titleholder, fighting infrequently against journeymen. I can think of at least 25 better choices for a WBC world title defense than age 42 Hysa: Parker, Bakole, Ajagba, Jalolov, Riakporhe, Yallyev, Suslenkov, Milas, Hrytsiv, Novytskyi, Huni, etc.

Agree that the opponent choice is poor, it shouldn't be sanctioned for the title. But his activity is par for the course these days at heavyweight.

The previous WBC champions weren't exactly taking on all comers, either:

• Wilder in his final years as champion fought two rematches and a gimme against Breazeale

• Fury defended against Whyte, fought two rematches and a gimme against Ngannou. Ran from, then lost to Usyk.

• Usyk fought two rematches and a gimme against a Verhoeven

Kabayel was waiting on his promised title shot until he was elevated in late June. His first title defense is 5 months later.
Dubois is making his first title defence 5 months later
Hrgovic is making his first title defence "early next year" so 5+ months later.

They are all attached to Queensberry.

Will we get a unification between WBO and WBC in the first half of next year? If not and his opponent choice is poor yet again, then I suspect it will be knives out

But I agree, Hysa is not the top 10 opponent Warren promised. It's not good enough, and should be a non-title fight like Ngannou was