BoxRec

PRINCEKOOL wrote: ↑29 Sep 2026, 13:53Kabayel's best win on his resume is still beating a lacklustre Derek Chisora 'in a fight that could have gone either way'.

I don't particular rate Agit Kabayel very highly at elite level, solid fighter 'but I would back both Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua to beat him even at this stage of their career' etc.

PRINCEKOOL wrote: ↑29 Sep 2026, 13:53 Agit Kabayel turned professional before Anthony Joshua 'and was not a factor during the peak years of Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder's heavyweight reigns'.

Note: The major reason in my opinion why? He has suddenly in the past 3 years 'became a factor a top level. Is because this heavyweight era is clearly in its conclusive stages and the overall standard of the competitive landscape has dropped'.

Kabayel's best win on his resume is still beating a lacklustre Derek Chisora 'in a fight that could have gone either way'.

I don't particular rate Agit Kabayel very highly at elite level, solid fighter 'but I would back both Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua to beat him even at this stage of their career' etc.

Finkel wrote: ↑29 Sep 2026, 16:49 You are right, but at the same time it is nice to see different faces get opportunities

Then again, after Wilder's WBC run, Hysa isn't all that bad

Finkel wrote: ↑30 Sep 2026, 08:29 No one said he would be among Deontay's best opponents.

But the existence of Stiverne 2 makes my point for me. And among those not medically unfit to fight, he would likely beat Szpilka and possibly Molina (a soft touch that Joshua also made a defence against) too.

Finkel wrote: ↑30 Sep 2026, 08:29 Anyway, its Kabayel's first title defence. It is a reasonable opponent when I consider not only the far easier route to the title guys like Joshua, Wilder, Fury, and Parker all took. But that also each of them fought some weak opponents early on as world championship or lineal defences

joshj909 wrote: ↑30 Sep 2026, 08:33

Finkel wrote: ↑30 Sep 2026, 08:29 No one said he would be among Deontay's best opponents.

But the existence of Stiverne 2 makes my point for me. And among those not medically unfit to fight, he would likely beat Szpilka and possibly Molina (a soft touch that Joshua also made a defence against) too.

Nothing I've seen suggests that this 42 year old would likely beat either of them at the time they faced Wilder. Not to say he couldn't but he's not proven himself as likely.

joshj909 wrote: ↑30 Sep 2026, 08:33

Finkel wrote: ↑30 Sep 2026, 08:29 Anyway, its Kabayel's first title defence. It is a reasonable opponent when I consider not only the far easier route to the title guys like Joshua, Wilder, Fury, and Parker all took. But that also each of them fought some weak opponents early on as world championship or lineal defences

Are we not counting Knyba as a defence? Otherwise he has only been gifted the title.

Finkel wrote: ↑30 Sep 2026, 08:37

joshj909 wrote: ↑30 Sep 2026, 08:33

Finkel wrote: ↑30 Sep 2026, 08:29 No one said he would be among Deontay's best opponents.

But the existence of Stiverne 2 makes my point for me. And among those not medically unfit to fight, he would likely beat Szpilka and possibly Molina (a soft touch that Joshua also made a defence against) too.

Nothing I've seen suggests that this 42 year old would likely beat either of them at the time they faced Wilder. Not to say he couldn't but he's not proven himself as likely.

Agree to disagree on that

joshj909 wrote: ↑30 Sep 2026, 08:33

Finkel wrote: ↑30 Sep 2026, 08:29 Anyway, its Kabayel's first title defence. It is a reasonable opponent when I consider not only the far easier route to the title guys like Joshua, Wilder, Fury, and Parker all took. But that also each of them fought some weak opponents early on as world championship or lineal defences

Are we not counting Knyba as a defence? Otherwise he has only been gifted the title.

I don't think Knyba counts. It was an interim defence when he should have been getting the Usyk fight.

But in terms of becoming mandatory, as I mentioned, Wilder, Fury, Joshua, and Parker had far easier routes.

But sure we can say he was gifted the title when Usyk didn't want to fight him. That's fair to say.

Klitschko fought Fury at the end of a long career. Fury got that chance and took the titles.
Usyk dropped his belts.

Finkel wrote: ↑30 Sep 2026, 10:27 Argumentative much

I don't think I am praising anyone, but sure, I do think Usyk deserves some criticism for how he handled (repeatedly ignored) his mandatories

joshj909 wrote: ↑30 Sep 2026, 10:37

Finkel wrote: ↑30 Sep 2026, 10:27 Argumentative much

I don't think I am praising anyone, but sure, I do think Usyk deserves some criticism for how he handled (repeatedly ignored) his mandatories

However, Kabayel has not faced any of the top guys of the division and has picked two European can crushers as his first opponents as a champ after being inactive for years. He is in a great position to make an impact and is not taking it.

Finkel wrote: ↑30 Sep 2026, 10:45

joshj909 wrote: ↑30 Sep 2026, 10:37

Finkel wrote: ↑30 Sep 2026, 10:27 Argumentative much

I don't think I am praising anyone, but sure, I do think Usyk deserves some criticism for how he handled (repeatedly ignored) his mandatories

However, Kabayel has not faced any of the top guys of the division and has picked two European can crushers as his first opponents as a champ after being inactive for years. He is in a great position to make an impact and is not taking it.

I can agree with that. Because one thing I don't like is that he isn't fighting someone from the WBC top 15. I don't quite understand how he is making a title defence against Hysa.

You are right though, he needs to be either making a unification next or fighting someone in at least the WBC top 10

Finkel wrote: ↑29 Sep 2026, 16:42

PRINCEKOOL wrote: ↑29 Sep 2026, 13:53 Agit Kabayel turned professional before Anthony Joshua 'and was not a factor during the peak years of Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder's heavyweight reigns'.

Note: The major reason in my opinion why? He has suddenly in the past 3 years 'became a factor a top level. Is because this heavyweight era is clearly in its conclusive stages and the overall standard of the competitive landscape has dropped'.

Kabayel's best win on his resume is still beating a lacklustre Derek Chisora 'in a fight that could have gone either way'.

I don't particular rate Agit Kabayel very highly at elite level, solid fighter 'but I would back both Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua to beat him even at this stage of their career' etc.

What a load of crap

PRINCEKOOL wrote: ↑30 Sep 2026, 11:20

Finkel wrote: ↑29 Sep 2026, 16:42

PRINCEKOOL wrote: ↑29 Sep 2026, 13:53 Agit Kabayel turned professional before Anthony Joshua 'and was not a factor during the peak years of Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder's heavyweight reigns'.

Note: The major reason in my opinion why? He has suddenly in the past 3 years 'became a factor a top level. Is because this heavyweight era is clearly in its conclusive stages and the overall standard of the competitive landscape has dropped'.

Kabayel's best win on his resume is still beating a lacklustre Derek Chisora 'in a fight that could have gone either way'.

I don't particular rate Agit Kabayel very highly at elite level, solid fighter 'but I would back both Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua to beat him even at this stage of their career' etc.

What a load of crap

Agit Kabayel turned professional before Anthony Joshua 'and was a non-factor during the peak years of Fury, Joshua and Wilder's heavyweight reigns. This is a fact'.

Note: He is completely overrated and his best win on his resume 'is still his vs. Derek Chisora in a fight which could have gone either way'.

You are obviously a fan of Agit Kabayel's 'both Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua would beat him right now. In my opinion he is in worst condition now than when he fought Derek Chisora'.

Agit Kaybal, Joseph Parker, Martin Bakole 'those three fighters were all professional and well into their careers during the heavyweight reigns of Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder. Kayabel was a non-factor, Parker was beaten by Anthony Joshua easily, and Bakole was beaten by Michael Hunter'.

Then suddenly in the past 3 years approximately 'those three fighters started to pipe up again, after doing nothing much at top level for many years. And in my opinion this was because the competitive landscape had decreased'.

If I had to give one of those three fighters the most credit 'it would be Joseph Parker. But even still at true top level Parker has never really been able win'.

Agit Kabayel has won any mega fights during his career 'he has not experienced the big dance. Until he wins at true elite level, I will not consider him an elite level fighter' etc.

golden_labrador wrote: ↑30 Sep 2026, 13:11

PRINCEKOOL wrote: ↑30 Sep 2026, 11:20

Finkel wrote: ↑29 Sep 2026, 16:42

What a load of crap

Agit Kabayel turned professional before Anthony Joshua 'and was a non-factor during the peak years of Fury, Joshua and Wilder's heavyweight reigns. This is a fact'.

Note: He is completely overrated and his best win on his resume 'is still his vs. Derek Chisora in a fight which could have gone either way'.

You are obviously a fan of Agit Kabayel's 'both Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua would beat him right now. In my opinion he is in worst condition now than when he fought Derek Chisora'.

Agit Kaybal, Joseph Parker, Martin Bakole 'those three fighters were all professional and well into their careers during the heavyweight reigns of Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder. Kayabel was a non-factor, Parker was beaten by Anthony Joshua easily, and Bakole was beaten by Michael Hunter'.

Then suddenly in the past 3 years approximately 'those three fighters started to pipe up again, after doing nothing much at top level for many years. And in my opinion this was because the competitive landscape had decreased'.

If I had to give one of those three fighters the most credit 'it would be Joseph Parker. But even still at true top level Parker has never really been able win'.

Agit Kabayel has won any mega fights during his career 'he has not experienced the big dance. Until he wins at true elite level, I will not consider him an elite level fighter' etc.

did a human write this?

joshj909 wrote: ↑30 Sep 2026, 11:02

Finkel wrote: ↑30 Sep 2026, 10:45

joshj909 wrote: ↑30 Sep 2026, 10:37
However, Kabayel has not faced any of the top guys of the division and has picked two European can crushers as his first opponents as a champ after being inactive for years. He is in a great position to make an impact and is not taking it.

I can agree with that. Because one thing I don't like is that he isn't fighting someone from the WBC top 15. I don't quite understand how he is making a title defence against Hysa.

You are right though, he needs to be either making a unification next or fighting someone in at least the WBC top 10

I think most people would respect defences against Ajagba, even Parker after a loss, Verhoeven after a loss, Riakporhe despite his limited heavyweight experience, Jalolov of course, even Hun after a loss. The WBC rankings are pretty poor for options but he's gone even worse. I suspect he wants Fury, should he beat Joshua. I also suspect that Okolie was being lined up for him before he failed his drug test, so that isn't his fault.