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Agit Kabayel eyes homecoming show

WBC Interim heavyweight champion Agit Kabayel (28-2) from Germany has announced on social media that details of a big homecoming show will be revealed in the next few weeks.

Kabayel last fought in Germany on March 4, 2023, when he stopped hard punching Croatian Agron Smakici in three rounds - but not before being hurt in the second round.

This was followed by three stoppage wins in Riyadh over Aslanbek Makhumov, Frank Sanchez and Zhilei Zhang. Since beating Zhang, Kabayel, now promoted by allegedly and managed by Spencer Brown, has been waiting for news regarding his next step.

Kabayel came up the hard way fighting on small shows and participated in the Bigger is Better Tournament, where he went 2-2 in fights that aren't recognized by BoxRec nor the new Fight Fax.

In 2014 Kabayel was described as "raw and seemingly unfit" by Danny Flexen in Boxing News after beating Gbenga Oluokun. Kabayel was then all set to fight July 26 the same year on a small show in Kaarst - however, due to a big fight among the small crowd, the rest of the event was cancelled.

Kabayel was then signed by SES and his career took off. A big break seemed to be on its way when Top Rank signed him up but the US career never took off.

Still, Kabayel plugged away and here we are.

Homecoming fight.

Who against though?

He had a decent run, then this year has been a little crap.

He needs that good opponent again.

Hope it’s a decent fight, been a weird career, hope he gets a title shot, he was so impressive breaking down much bigger fighters

Can’t see it being a great fight, not gunna take big risks for an interim and homecomings often don’t need the best opponents.

Do they have to be top 15? If so

Efe, bakole, wilder, chisora, jah Anderson.

If not add in Ruiz, Nelson Huysa, Otto…

I'd like to see him more active too.
Question is, what sort of money does a German show generate?
I have no idea, but I think that will give a guideline to the opponent.
Klitschko had big fights in Germany, but by the Saudi money or big UK shows we have had this decade, they now seem quite small purses.

KiwiRider wrote: ↑09 Sep 2025, 04:31 I'd like to see him more active too.
Question is, what sort of money does a German show generate?
I have no idea, but I think that will give a guideline to the opponent.
Klitschko had big fights in Germany, but by the Saudi money or big UK shows we have had this decade, they now seem quite small purses.

Maybe Riyadh Season will sponsor the event.. But it's the opponent that needs paying.

If we're going by the WBC rankings, which I understand he'll have to choose from to keep the interim belt. The best options are a Chisora rematch, Okolie, Torrez or Jalolov.

Other possible options are Bakole, Wilder, Anderson and Huni.

Unlikely are Ajagba, Sanchez, Dubois, Joshua, Zhang, Hrgovic and Itauma.

If I had to guess who it would be, I'd go with Wilder or Okolie. Bakole third most likely.

joshj909 wrote: ↑09 Sep 2025, 05:58 If we're going by the WBC rankings, which I understand he'll have to choose from to keep the interim belt. The best options are a Chisora rematch, Okolie, Torrez or Jalolov.

Chizzy wont want to have his 'last' fight in Germany, but for a 'world' title? who knows.

Kabayel would be a favourite in all them fights, but it's heavyweight boxing. anything can happen.

I'd add Torrez and Jalolov to the 'unlikely' list. Jalaov is permanently MIA and I don't imagine Torrez's people would want to send him to Germany. But I would love it if it was either of them.

JC wrote: ↑09 Sep 2025, 06:33 I'd add Torrez and Jalolov to the 'unlikely' list. Jalaov is permanently MIA and I don't imagine Torrez's people would want to send him to Germany. But I would love it if it was either of them.

The unlikely list I put are because they're logistically unlikely due to scheduled fights and injuries

Why does Jalolov fight infrequently anyone know?

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑09 Sep 2025, 10:05 Why does Jalolov fight infrequently anyone know?

Nobody knows for sure. But a general guess is that he has a very comfortable life as Uzbekistan's premier amateur and olympic gold medal collector. So the push to properly make it in the pros isn't really there. The rule change allowing pros to go back into the olympics seems likely a major factor.

Edit: although I just Googled it and this article came up saying he's done with the ams and wants big fights https://ringmagazine.com/en/news/bakhod ... -big-bouts so

JC wrote: ↑09 Sep 2025, 10:39

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑09 Sep 2025, 10:05 Why does Jalolov fight infrequently anyone know?

Nobody knows for sure. But a general guess is that he has a very comfortable life as Uzbekistan's premier amateur and olympic gold medal collector. So the push to properly make it in the pros isn't really there. The rule change allowing pros to go back into the olympics seems likely a major factor.

Edit: although I just Googled it and this article came up saying he's done with the ams and wants big fights https://ringmagazine.com/en/news/bakhod ... -big-bouts so

Thanks JC I bet he’s well looked after by the government there, I get it.

I think if there was a boogie man in the heavyweight division, it is Kabayel.
His stoppages of Zhang and Big Mak were brutal.
I'm not sure why no one is backing him into big fights. It's a world champion level guy who can't get a championship fight. And he's definitely not boring to watch.

KiwiRider wrote: ↑10 Sep 2025, 01:01 I think if there was a boogie man in the heavyweight division, it is Kabayel.
His stoppages of Zhang and Big Mak were brutal.
I'm not sure why no one is backing him into big fights. It's a world champion level guy who can't get a championship fight. And he's definitely not boring to watch.

And he speaks English which will help promote him in UK and US

WBC interim champ Agit Kabayel defends title in Oberhausen on January 10

Always well-informed German paper BILD writes today that WBC Interim heavyweight champion Agit Kabayel will defend his title on January 10 at the 13,000-seater Rudolf Weber Arena in Oberhausen.

It is, according to BILD, the biggest fight on German soil since the days of the Klitschkos, which ended in Düsseldorf in 2015.

Who Kabayel will fight is not yet known, but BILD are certain that it will be a top ten-rated opponent with the WBA; WBC, WBO or IBF.

The event will, again according to BILD, be streamed by DAZN.

Nice to see him getting out there

Well it's better than nothing.
What a shame the second best heavyweight in professional boxing can't get the fights.
If there is a boogie man, it's Kabayel

KiwiRider wrote: ↑30 Sep 2025, 15:10 Well it's better than nothing.
What a shame the second best heavyweight in professional boxing can't get the fights.
If there is a boogie man, it's Kabayel

I'm sure he can get a better fight than Hysa if he actually wanted one. You know, someone genuinely in the top 50 in the world maybe? Perhaps someone under 40 years old?

joshj909 wrote: ↑30 Sep 2025, 15:26

KiwiRider wrote: ↑30 Sep 2025, 15:10 Well it's better than nothing.
What a shame the second best heavyweight in professional boxing can't get the fights.
If there is a boogie man, it's Kabayel

I'm sure he can get a better fight than Hysa if he actually wanted one. You know, someone genuinely in the top 50 in the world maybe? Perhaps someone under 40 years old?

It’s a ‘homecoming’ isn’t it? I’m gonna let him off.. but I expect him to have a nice turn around after this and target a late Spring fight against a top contender.

It will be a great atmosphere.

joshj909 wrote: ↑30 Sep 2025, 15:26

KiwiRider wrote: ↑30 Sep 2025, 15:10 Well it's better than nothing.
What a shame the second best heavyweight in professional boxing can't get the fights.
If there is a boogie man, it's Kabayel

I'm sure he can get a better fight than Hysa if he actually wanted one. You know, someone genuinely in the top 50 in the world maybe? Perhaps someone under 40 years old?

His promotion is seemingly crap Josh.
And I recall they were struggling to get anyone a year ago. I don't think that has changed. His momentum has stalled waiting on Uysk I guess. Different story for Parker who is also waiting in line for Uysk, but is with Fwank now and gets Fabio Wardley as a fight.

Announced: Agit Kabayel will defend his WBC ‘interim’ heavyweight belt in a homecoming fight on January 10th in Oberhausen, Germany

An opponent has yet to be named.

A crying shame !

Kabayel is in red hot form and the world gets too see him box once in 2024 and once in 2025