Victory in the World Cup elimination battle
Kabayel knocks out Sanchez and can hope for Usyk or Fury
May 18, 2024, 11:59 p.m
The German professional boxer Agit Kabayel can hope for a world championship fight soon. The heavyweight from Bochum knocks out the undefeated Cuban Frank Sanchez in an impressive manner. Now he is the next challenger for the winner between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.
The German heavyweight boxer Agit Kabayel is about to make his long-awaited first world championship fight. In Riyadh, the Bochum native deservedly defeated the previously unbeaten Cuban Frank Sanchez by knockout after seven rounds in the World Cup eliminator. In front of former world champion Anthony Joshua and soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, Kabayel won his 25th professional victory and remains unbeaten.
“We did it. I’m very happy. We worked very hard for this opportunity,” said Kabayel on DAZN. He didn’t want to think too much about the future yet. The victory was “another step in my career,” he said: “The fight is over. I’m going home to my family now. Afterwards we can talk.” His trainer predicted that his opponent’s stamina would be exhausted after six rounds.
The 31-year-old is the next mandatory challenger to the WBC heavyweight world champion. That belt is currently held by Tyson Fury, who will compete for the status of undisputed heavyweight world champion in the main fight against the Ukrainian WBA, WBO and IBF champion Oleksandr Usyk later on Saturday. However, such a duel is unlikely to take place before 2025 due to a rematch clause between Fury and Usyk.
Kabayel, currently the best German heavyweight, didn’t get off to a good start in the first round. After that he got better and better. In the second round, the Leverkusen native scored some good hits to Sanchez’s head and body. Kabayel kept up the pressure. The “Ruhrpott boy”, who was in optimal physical condition, repeatedly pushed the Cuban to the side. His opponent seemed unimaginative. In the seventh round, Kabayel caught him badly twice, and Sanchez pulled himself together after a liver hook. After the second hit to the solar plexus, the referee stopped the fight.
The duel took place before the unification fight for all major world heavyweight titles between Britain’s Tyson Fury and Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk. In December, Kabayel impressively defeated the previously unbeaten Russian Arslanbek Makhmudow by technical knockout. In 2023 he became European heavyweight champion.