Agit Kabayel
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 23 September 1992 Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) |
| Weight | Heavyweight |
| Boxing career | |
| Reach | 80 in (203 cm) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 27 |
| Wins | 27 |
| Win by KO | 19 |
Agit Kabayel (born 23 September 1992) is a German professional boxer. He has held the World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight title since June 2026. At regional level, he has held multiple heavyweight championships, including the European title twice between 2017 and 2024.
As of June 2026, Kabayel is ranked as the world's third-best active heavyweight by The Ring and BoxRec.[1][2]
Early life
[edit]Kabayel was born in Leverkusen,[3] North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany to Kurdish parents originating from the village of Uson/Cennetpazarı in Pazarcık, Turkey, from an Alevi family.[4][5][6][7][8] He grew up in the nearby city of Bochum in relatively poor financial conditions.[9] Kabayel initially began an apprenticeship as a skilled worker in railway track construction after obtaining Mittlere Reife. Occasionally he worked as a bouncer, pursued a career in football and later also tried kickboxing before turning to his current discipline, boxing.[10]
Professional career
[edit]Early career
[edit]Kabayel compiled a perfect record of 15–0 before winning the vacant European heavyweight title with a unanimous decision victory against Herve Hubeaux on 24 February 2017 in Cologne, Germany.[11]
Kabayel vs. Chisora
[edit]In his next fight, Kabayel defended his European title against former WBC world title challenger Derek Chisora at the Casino de Monte Carlo Salle Médecin in Monte Carlo, Monaco, on 4 November 2017. Chisora was ranked #8 by the WBC at the time.[12] In a largely low-key affair, Kabayel outboxed his opponent to a majority decision victory. The judges' scorecards read 115–113, 115–114, 114–114 in Kabayel's favour, handing Chisora his eighth professional loss. Chisora started the fight slow, remaining patient. He became more active after round six but failed to bustle the attack on Kabayel, who moved well with his feet. Kabayel also used quick combinations and jabs to win many of the rounds.[13][14]
On 2 March 2019, Kabayel beat Andriy Rudenko by unanimous decision in a 12 round contest, almost a year after his previous bout.[15] Over the next four years, Kabayel fought at this rate, with his next four bouts occurring yearly between 2020 and 2023. He eventually vacated his European title on 3 September 2019, after signing up with Top Rank.[16]
Rise up the ranks
[edit]On 18 July 2020, Kabayel beat Evgenios Lazaridis by unanimous decision in their ten-round contest to win the vacant WBA Continental heavyweight title. The scorecards read 98–92, 100–90, 99–91 in favour of Kabayel.[17]
In November 2020, it was revealed that Kabayel was in talks to challenge the then-undefeated WBC and The Ring heavyweight champion Tyson Fury on 5 December 2020 at the Royal Albert Hall, London, and that he had been sent a contract by Fury's promoter Frank Warren.[18][19] However, the fight was ultimately cancelled due to complications with Fury's contractual disputes with former WBC champion Deontay Wilder regarding a potential trilogy fight between them.[20]
On 5 June 2021, Kabayel returned to the ring to face former world title challenger Kevin Johnson. He retained his WBA Continental title and undefeated record with a wide unanimous decision, with scores of 118–111, 118–111, and 119–110 in his favour.[21] Kabayel next faced Pavel Sour on 14 May 2022. He won the fight by a first-round technical knockout.[22] After almost a year of inactivity, Kabayel returned on March 3, 2023 against Agron Smakici, recovering from a second-round knockdown to stop Smakici in the third, recapturing the vacant European heavyweight title in the process.[23]
Kabayel vs. Makhmudov
[edit]On 23 December 2023, Kabayel challenged undefeated prospect Arslanbek Makhmudov for his WBC-NABF and WBA Inter-Continental titles at the Day of Reckoning event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This was also the first time he had fought twice in one year since 2017. Entering the bout as the underdog, Kabayel produced a surprise upset, defeating Makhmudov by TKO in the fourth round to take his titles. He outmanoeuvred his larger opponent throughout the first three rounds, countering him hard to the head, before increasing the pressure in the fourth and going down to the body; it was then that he dropped Makhmudov three times before the referee waved off the fight. With this win, Kabayel improved to 24–0 with 16 knockouts.[24]
Kabayel vs. Sánchez
[edit]On 18 May 2024, Agit Kabayel challenged undefeated Cuban contender Frank Sánchez for the WBC Continental Americas and WBO-NABO heavyweight titles at the Ring of Fire event in Riyadh's Kingdom Arena. The bout served as a WBC eliminator, positioning the winner as a mandatory challenger for the WBC heavyweight world title. Entering as the underdog, Kabayel delivered a commanding performance, employing strategic body shots and combinations to dominate the fight. In the seventh round, he knocked Sánchez down twice, leading to a knockout victory and two further regional titles to Kabayel's name.[25]
WBC interim heavyweight champion
[edit]Kabayel vs. Zhang
[edit]On 22 February 2025, Agit Kabayel faced the former WBO interim heavyweight champion Zhilei Zhang at The Last Crescendo event in the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the vacant WBC interim heavyweight title. Kabayel won by knockout in the sixth round, becoming the first person to stop the otherwise durable Zhang. After weathering Zhang's pressure in the first round, Kabayel maintained a relentless body attack over the remainder of the fight, gradually slowing Zhang down round by round; despite suffering a knockdown in the fifth, Kabayel recovered and continued to pressure Zhang to the body, who was ultimately counted out after a hard shot to the liver forced him to take a knee. This win improved Kabayel's record to 26–0 and earned him the interim title.[26]
Kabayel vs. Knyba
[edit]On 4 November 2025, it was announced that Kabayel would defend his interim title against the undefeated Damian Knyba (17–0, 11 KOs) in Oberhausen, Germany, scheduled for 10 January 2026.[27] Kabayel struggled in the first round against his 2.01m opponent, who used his significant height and reach advantage to land several hard shots to Kabayel's face, opening a cut over his right eye. Nevertheless, Kabayel retook control of the fight, negating Knyba's reach advantage with his own pressure and increasingly landing his own punches to the head. Kabayel ultimately won in the third round after the referee waved off the fight, though the stoppage was deemed premature by some, including Knyba, who appeared to still be fighting back and attempting to defend himself.[28][29]
WBC heavyweight champion
[edit]Following his victory over Zhilei Zhang, Kabayel was positioned as the mandatory challenger for the undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk. In June 2026, Usyk unexpectedly vacated all his titles (WBC, WBA, IBF), leading the WBC to officially elevate Kabayel from interim champion to the full WBC heavyweight champion. With this elevation, Kabayel became the first German world heavyweight champion since Max Schmeling in 1932, as well as the first champion of Kurdish descent in boxing history.[30][31][32]
Personal life
[edit]Kabayel currently still resides in Bochum and lives in a multifamily residential with his wife, daughter, parents and other family members. After his fight against Makhmudov he became a millionaire.[9] One of his cousins is KC Rebell, a Kurdish-German rapper. Kabayel openly embraces his Kurdish origins while also acknowledging the role Germany played in his personal and professional development.[33] Therefore, he sees himself as "Kurdish and [...] German."[5] Besides enjoying broad support within the Kurdish community in Germany, he also has many fans in Kurdish regions abroad.[5] In April 2025, he visited the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, where he met with Prime Minister Masrour Barzani.[33] In an interview, he stated that during his visit he felt he was "celebrated there as a national hero, and that this was an honor."[5] He is also a brand ambassador for Visit Kurdistan, promoting tourism in the Kurdistan Region.[34] Kabayel is a supporter of the German national football team.[35]
Professional boxing record
[edit]| 27 fights | 27 wins | 0 losses |
|---|---|---|
| By knockout | 19 | 0 |
| By decision | 8 | 0 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | Win | 27–0 | Damian Knyba | TKO | 3 (12), 2:36 | 10 Jan 2026 | Rudolf Weber-Arena, Oberhausen, Germany | Retained WBC interim heavyweight title |
| 26 | Win | 26–0 | Zhilei Zhang | KO | 6 (12), 2:29 | 22 Feb 2025 | ANB Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Won vacant WBC interim heavyweight title |
| 25 | Win | 25–0 | Frank Sánchez | KO | 7 (12), 2:29 | 18 May 2024 | Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Won WBC Continental Americas and WBO-NABO heavyweight titles |
| 24 | Win | 24–0 | Arslanbek Makhmudov | TKO | 4 (10), 2:03 | 23 Dec 2023 | Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Won WBC-NABF and WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight titles |
| 23 | Win | 23–0 | Agron Smakici | TKO | 3 (12), 2:37 | 4 Mar 2023 | RuhrCongress, Bochum, Germany | Won vacant European heavyweight title |
| 22 | Win | 22–0 | Pavel Sour | TKO | 1 (8), 1:50 | 14 May 2022 | Seebühne, Magdeburg, Germany | |
| 21 | Win | 21–0 | Kevin Johnson | UD | 12 | 5 Jun 2021 | Seebühne, Magdeburg, Germany | Retained WBA Continental heavyweight title |
| 20 | Win | 20–0 | Evgenios Lazaridis | UD | 10 | 18 Jul 2020 | Seebühne, Magdeburg, Germany | Won vacant WBA Continental heavyweight title |
| 19 | Win | 19–0 | Andriy Rudenko | UD | 12 | 2 Mar 2019 | Maritim Hotel, Magdeburg, Germany | Retained European heavyweight title |
| 18 | Win | 18–0 | Miljan Rovcanin | TKO | 3 (12), 2:25 | 21 Apr 2018 | Estrel Berlin Convention Hall II, Berlin, Germany | Retained European heavyweight title |
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | Derek Chisora | MD | 12 | 4 Nov 2017 | Salle Gaston Médecin, Monte Carlo, Monaco | Retained European heavyweight title |
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | Herve Hubeaux | UD | 12 | 24 Feb 2017 | Maritim Hotel, Magdeburg, Germany | Won vacant European heavyweight title |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | Christian Lewandowski | KO | 7 (12), 0:20 | 4 Jun 2016 | Seebühne, Magdeburg, Germany | Won vacant European Union heavyweight title |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Lawrence Tauasa | TKO | 3 (8), 2:29 | 9 Jan 2016 | Maritim proArte Hotel, Berlin, Germany | |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Shalva Jomardashvili | KO | 1 (8), 1:27 | 5 Dec 2015 | Saarlandhalle, Saarbrücken, Germany | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Maksym Pedyura | TKO | 2 (8) | 17 Oct 2015 | Dm-Arena, Karlsruhe, Germany | |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Artsiom Charniakevich | TKO | 3 (10) | 14 Dec 2014 | Maritim Hotel Köln, Cologne, Germany | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Gbenga Oloukun | SD | 10 | 22 Mar 2014 | Atatürk Spor Salonu, Tekirdağ, Turkey | Won vacant WBC Mediterranean heavyweight title |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Wladimir Letr | KO | 1 (6), 0:12 | 1 Feb 2014 | Hala Okrąglak, Opole, Poland | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Pavel Siska | TKO | 2 (8), 2:05 | 15 Dec 2013 | Docks, Hamburg, Germany | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Alexander Kahl | TKO | 1 (6), 1:21 | 27 Sep 2013 | Atatürk Spor Salonu, Tekirdağ, Turkey | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Engin Solmaz | TKO | 2 (6), 1:42 | 27 Jul 2013 | Kugelbake-Halle, Cuxhaven, Germany | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Ivan Ćirković | TKO | 2 (6), 2:20 | 6 Apr 2013 | SPC Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Waldemar Pahl | PTS | 4 | 2 Jun 2012 | Kolpinghaus Beckum, Beckum, Germany | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Waldemar Pahl | TKO | 3 (4), 1:50 | 30 Mar 2012 | Maritim Hotel Köln, Cologne, Germany | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Selcuk Dinc | PTS | 4 | 23 Jul 2011 | Tai-Kien Gym, Aachen, Germany | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Yeton Abdullah | TKO | 4 (4) | 23 Jun 2011 | Butan Gym, Wuppertal, Germany |
Titles in boxing
[edit]Major world titles
[edit]- WBC heavyweight champion (200+ lbs)
Interim titles
[edit]Regional/International titles
[edit]- WBC Mediterranean heavyweight champion (200+ lbs)[37]
- European Union heavyweight champion (200+ lbs)[37]
- European heavyweight champion (200+ lbs) (x2)[37]
- WBA Continental heavyweight champion (200+ lbs)[37]
- WBC–NABF heavyweight champion (200+ lbs)[37]
- WBA Intercontinental heavyweight champion (200+ lbs)[37]
- WBC Continental Americas heavyweight champion (200+ lbs)[37]
- WBO–NABO heavyweight champion (200+ lbs)[37]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Ring Magazine: Heavyweight Ratings". ringmagazine.com. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
- ↑ "BoxRec: Heavyweight Ratings". boxrec.com. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
- ↑ "BoxRec: Agit Kabayel". boxrec.com. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ↑ Baran, Firaz (22 May 2026). "Agit Bir Dünya Yıldızı". maraskurtleri.com (in Turkish). Retrieved 29 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Agit Kabayel über seine Identität: "Ich bin Kurde und ich bin Deutscher"" [Agit Kabayel on his identity: "I am Kurdish and I am German."]. DAZN. 7 January 2026. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- ↑ https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/886574/kabayel-retains-heavyweight-title-with-third-round-knockout-dedicating-victory-to-kurdish-people
- ↑ https://roundtable.io/sports/boxing/wbc-interim-heavweight-champ-agit-kabayel-returns-saturday-night
- ↑ https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/836455/kurdish-power-agit-kabayel-on-victory-identity-and-his-dream-for-a-united-kurdistan
- 1 2 WELT, Kilian Gaffrey. "Schmelings Erbe?: „Vielleicht ist der Name Agit Kabayel nicht deutsch genug" - WELT". DIE WELT (in German). Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- ↑ "Agit Kabayel privat: Diese Schicksalsschläge musste die Familie des deutschen Box-Stars bereits verkraften". News.de (in German). 9 January 2026. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- ↑ Sukachev, Alexey (4 February 2017). "Agit Kabayel Decisions Herve Hubeaux, Becomes Euro Champion". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ↑ "Kabayel vs Chisora - News, Tape, Ringwalk, TV, Streaming & Tickets". Box.Live. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
- ↑ "Dereck Chisora suffers points defeat to European champion Agit Kabayel in Monaco". Sky Sports. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ↑ "Chisora beaten by champion Kabayel". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ↑ "Kabayel vs Rudenko - News, Tape, Ringwalk, TV, Streaming & Tickets". Box.Live. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
- ↑ "Undefeated heavyweight Agit Kabayel signs promotional contract with Top Rank".
- ↑ "Kabayel vs Lazaridis - News, Tape, Ringwalk, TV, Streaming & Tickets". Box.Live. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
- ↑ "Warren: Agit Kabayel sent contract to fight Tyson Fury | DAZN News UK". DAZN. 2 November 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ↑ "Tyson Fury selects Agit Kabayel as opponent for December 5 homecoming fight". talkSPORT. 2 November 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ↑ "Tyson Fury fight on December 5 at Royal Albert Hall cancelled". Gareth A Davies. 18 November 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ↑ "Agit Kabayel Turns Back Kevin Johnson With Unanimous Decision Win". BoxingScene.com. 6 June 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
- ↑ Persson, Per Ake (16 May 2022). "Euro News: Agit Kabayel, Cissokho vs. Saidi, Legrand, Ziani, Prat, More". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
- ↑ Top Heavyweight Team (27 May 2024). "Agit Kabayel Comes Back Like Rocky in Germany". heavyweightboxing.com. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
- ↑ Staff, BoxingScene (23 December 2023). "Agit Kabayel Drops Arslanbek Makhmudov Three Times To Stop Him in Four Round Shocker". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
- ↑ "RingSide24: German Boxer Agit Kabayel Defeats Frank Sanchez in Seventh Round KO". ringside24.com. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
- ↑ "talkSPORT: Agit Kabayel leaves Zhilei Zhang gasping for air as he knocks out 'Big Bang' with sickening body shot". talksport.com. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
- ↑ "Agit Kabayel return set for January in Germany". Ring Magazine. 4 November 2025.
- ↑ "Nie tak to miało wyglądać. Kontrowerysjne zakończenie. Wielka szansa Polaka uciekła". Interia Sport (in Polish). 10 January 2026.
- ↑ "Agit Kabayel stops Damian Knyba early for happy Germany homecoming". Ring Magazine. 10 January 2026.
- ↑ "Agit Kabayel Becomes Germany's First Heavyweight Champion Since 1932". 28 June 2026. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
- ↑ "AGIT KABAYEL RECOGNIZED AS THE NEW WBC HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION - World Boxing Council". 27 June 2026. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
- ↑ "Words cannot describe: Agit Kabayel on becoming WBC world champion after Usyk vacated the belts | УНН". unn.ua. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
- 1 2 Sardar, Sattar (23 June 2025). "More Than a Fighter". Kurdistan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 6 December 2025. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- ↑ Kader, Dania (22 December 2025). "The Man Behind the World Boxing Council Interim Heavyweight Title - Agit Kabayel". Visit Kudistan. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- ↑ Astbury, Matt (1 July 2026). "World champion Agit Kabayel offers to train Germany after World Cup humiliation". DAZN. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
- ↑ Rafael, Dan (28 June 2026). "WBC elevates Agit Kabayel from interim to full heavyweight titlist". Fight Freaks Unite. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Agit Kabayel | Boxer Page". Tapology. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
External links
[edit]- Boxing record for Agit Kabayel from BoxRec (registration required)
- Agit Kabayel - Profile, News Archive & Current Rankings at Box.Live
| Sporting positions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regional boxing titles | ||||
| Vacant Title last held by Manuel Charr |
WBC Mediterranean heavyweight champion 22 March 2014 – February 2015 Vacated |
Vacant Title next held by Mohamed Al-Zein | ||
| Vacant Title last held by Erkan Teper |
European Union heavyweight champion 4 June 2016 – April 2018 Vacated |
Vacant Title next held by Otto Wallin | ||
| Vacant Title last held by Kubrat Pulev |
European heavyweight champion 4 February 2017 – 3 September 2019 Vacated |
Vacant Title next held by Joe Joyce | ||
| Vacant Title last held by David Price |
WBA Continental heavyweight champion 18 July 2020 – March 2022 Vacated |
Vacant Title next held by Fabio Wardley | ||
| Vacant Title last held by Joe Joyce |
European heavyweight champion 4 March 2023 – 4 January 2024 Vacated |
Vacant Title next held by Oleksandr Zakhozhyi | ||
| Preceded by | NABF heavyweight champion 23 December 2023 – August 2024 Vacated |
Vacant Title next held by Martin Bakole | ||
| WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight champion 23 December 2023 – April 2024 Vacated |
Vacant Title next held by Johnny Fisher | |||
| Preceded by | WBC Continental Americas heavyweight champion 18 May 2024 – 22 February 2025 Won interim world title |
Vacant Title next held by Guido Vianello | ||
| NABO heavyweight champion 18 May 2024 – 22 February 2025 Vacated |
Vacant Title next held by Richard Torrez | |||
| World boxing titles | ||||
| Vacant Title last held by Dillian Whyte |
WBC heavyweight champion Interim title 22 February 2025 – 27 June 2026 Promoted |
Vacant | ||
| Preceded by | WBC heavyweight champion 27 June 2026 – present |
Incumbent | ||