In a thrilling display of dominance, Agit Kabayel has taken a giant leap toward challenging Oleksandr Usyk for the world title, but here’s where it gets controversial—was his victory over Damian Knyba as decisive as it seemed? On Saturday, Kabayel (27-0, 19 KOs) delivered a ruthless three-round stoppage of Knyba at the Rudolf Weber-Arena in Oberhausen, Germany, marking his sixth consecutive knockout and a successful first defense of the WBC interim heavyweight title. While the stoppage might have felt slightly premature, Kabayel’s relentless right hands left Knyba visibly wobbled, making the outcome feel inevitable. This win not only cements Kabayel’s position as a serious contender but also reignites the debate: Is he truly ready for Usyk, or is the boxing world moving too fast?
Kabayel’s recent victories over heavy-hitters like Zhilei Zhang, Frank Sanchez, and Arslanbek Makhmudov have turned heads, but Knyba, despite lacking a stellar reputation, provided a surprising early challenge. The Polish fighter, standing at six-foot-seven—four inches taller than Kabayel—stormed out of the gates in Round 1, landing sharp right hands and uppercuts that left Kabayel with visible damage around his eye. And this is the part most people miss—Knyba’s aggressive start momentarily exposed Kabayel’s vulnerability, raising questions about how he’d fare against a more seasoned opponent like Usyk.
However, Kabayel quickly adjusted, finding his rhythm in Round 2 before unleashing a barrage of heavy right hands in Round 3. The final minute saw Knyba’s legs turn to jelly after a temple shot, prompting the referee to step in. While the crowd of 12,000 roared for a Kabayel-Usyk showdown, the path to that fight isn’t straightforward. Usyk, the WBC, WBA, and IBF world champion, is rumored to face Deontay Wilder next, potentially delaying a Kabayel matchup until late 2026—unless Usyk opts for a blockbuster clash with Tyson Fury instead.
Kabayel, who claimed the WBC interim title by knocking out Zhang in February 2025, has made no secret of his ambitions. ‘I beat three monsters in the Riyadh Season, now give me the world title fight,’ he declared. As Germany’s biggest boxing star since the Klitschko brothers, Kabayel is determined to prove that German boxing is ‘alive and well.’ But with Usyk’s schedule in flux and Kabayel’s recent performance sparking debate, one question lingers: Is Kabayel truly Usyk’s next biggest threat, or is he being rushed into a fight he’s not ready for? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—do you think Kabayel deserves the shot, or is there another contender who should step up first?
