Kurdish German heavyweight Agit Kabayel delivered a crushing liver shot to stop Zhilei Zhang in the sixth round. The devastating blow left Zhang gasping for breath and unable to continue. With this victory, Kabayel claimed the WBC interim heavyweight title and remained undefeated.
Tactical Brilliance Secures Victory
Kabayel entered the ring with a clear strategy. From the second round, he targeted Zhang’s body, disrupting the Chinese fighter’s rhythm. Zhang, known for his power, landed heavy shots early, but Kabayel absorbed them and stayed composed. His relentless body attack forced Zhang to slow down by the fourth round.
In the fifth, Zhang managed to knock Kabayel down, but the Kurdish German boxer quickly recovered. Then, in the sixth round, he unleashed a brutal liver shot. The moment Zhang doubled over in pain, it was clear—Agit Kabayel broke Zhang. The referee stepped in, sealing a career-defining victory for Kabayel.
Kabayel Eyes a World Title Shot
Following the fight, Kabayel confidently spoke about his game plan. He revealed that his team had drilled body shots repeatedly in training. His coach had predicted Zhang’s stamina would fade by the fifth round. True to the plan, Kabayel executed the decisive strike just one round later.
“Every training session, we go to the body, go to the head,” Kabayel said. “After the fifth round, I knew he had no conditioning left—and you saw, I broke Zhang.”
This victory places Kabayel in prime position for a world title shot. The WBO could soon mandate a bout against Oleksandr Usyk, the current unified heavyweight champion. With boxing’s rotating title system, Kabayel’s big opportunity might come sooner than expected.
From Underrated Fighter to Heavyweight Contender
For years, Kabayel struggled to secure major fights despite his talent. His career stalled while he held the European heavyweight title. However, the recent surge of Saudi Arabia’s investment in boxing changed his fortunes. Competing under the Riyadh Season banner, Kabayel secured stoppage wins over Arslanbek Makhmudov and Frank Sanchez. Those victories caught the attention of Saudi boxing chief Turki Al-Sheikh and helped him secure this breakthrough moment.
Zhang’s Ranking Takes a Hit
Before the fight, Zhang held the No.4 spot in the Ring Magazine rankings, just ahead of Kabayel. However, this brutal defeat is expected to drop Zhang’s ranking. Meanwhile, Kabayel’s dominant win solidifies his position among the top heavyweights.
Joseph Parker, IBF champion Daniel Dubois, and Tyson Fury remain in the title mix. However, Usyk continues to reign as the division’s top champion. With his perfect record still intact and an impressive victory over Zhang, Agit Kabayel has made a statement—he is a serious contender for boxing’s biggest prize.
