Agit Kabayel (left) digs a hook into Frank Sanchez’s midsection throughout their heavyweight conflict in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Might 18, 2024. (Picture by Richard Pelham/Getty Photos)
Agit Kabayel burst onto the heavyweight scene with dominant upset wins over Arslanbek Makhmudov and Frank Sanchez in his two most up-to-date fights, each in Saudi Arabia.
Kabayel, rated No. 5 by The Ring at heavyweight, ripped up the script and made probably the most of his alternative, thus positioning himself for even greater fights.
“I used to be an enormous underdog towards Arslanbek, who was 18-0 with 17 knockouts, one of many scariest punchers within the heavyweight division and ranked WBC No. 3, WBA No. 4, IBF No. 7 and WBO No. 14 earlier than our combat,” Kabayel (25-0, 17 knockouts) instructed The Ring. “Nearly no one believed that I may win this combat. However I did what I needed to. The whole lot labored as deliberate, and with knocking out Arslanbek, I undoubtedly put the heavyweight division on discover and introduced myself on the world stage.
“After I needed to be the underdog once more and most of the people as soon as once more counted me out towards extremely rated Cuban Frank Sanchez, who was 24-0 with 17 KOs and ranked WBC No. 2, WBO No. 3, WBA No. 4 and IBF No. 6 earlier than our combat. Once more, I did what I needed to do, adopted the sport plan and knocked out Sanchez.”
Beforehand, the very best win on Kabayel’s file was over Derek Chisora, however that was again in 2017. He signed co-promotional types with Prime Rank, however then the COVID pandemic hit and he noticed his ambitions shelved.
It’s been one thing of a battle to get thus far, however the affected person German is now having fun with the fruits of his labor.
“I beat two prime three contenders, so now I’m up there: WBC No. 2, the IBF’s highest-ranked contender, WBO No. 5 and Ring Journal’s No. 5,” mentioned the affable contender. “My title is getting talked about in a single sentence with Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk and [Anthony Joshua], and at last individuals imagine in my expertise.”
The 31-year-old hopes to combat once more within the fall however admits he doesn’t have something within the works.
“I’m again within the health club, preparing for the following challenges,” he mentioned. “I felt very welcome in Saudi Arabia. Riyadh is a particular place for me — I fought myself into the elite of the heavyweight division in profitable these two fights in Riyadh. After all, I’m prepared and might’t wait to be again within the ring there.”
He was a eager observer of the current Riyadh Season occasion in Los Angeles when two heavyweight fights landed on the undercard of Terence Crawford-Israil Madrimov.
“[Martin] Bakole did an important job. I used to be positive earlier than this combat that Bakole was going to be an excessive amount of for 24-year-old Jared Anderson,” he mentioned. “It was the primary actual problem in Jared’s profession and it was a few fights too early for him to face Bakole, who — inside boxing — everybody knew what an distinctive boxer he’s.
“[Andy] Ruiz vs. [Jarrell] Miller was thrilling, nice for the followers. I actually loved each fights. That confirmed boxing is greater than alive — particularly the heavyweight division.”
Kabayel’s goal, after all, is the largest prize in boxing.
“My purpose is to change into heavyweight champion of the world,” he mentioned. “Prior to now, many individuals have been laughing about this dream of mine they usually have been positive that I might by no means make it. With my success, I silenced lots of people. However I’m simply getting began.”
His handler, Benny Blanko, is working diligently to maintain his sizzling fighter lively whereas having one eye on the larger prize subsequent 12 months.
“I want to see Agit concerned in one other megafight this 12 months,” mentioned Blanko. “And naturally I need to witness him fulfilling his childhood dream of changing into world heavyweight champion.”
Questions and/or feedback will be despatched to Anson at [email protected].
