Agit Kabayel will defend his WBC heavyweight title in Germany before the end of 2026, promoter Frank Warren has confirmed. The 33-year-old German makes his first defense after being elevated to full champion following Oleksandr Usyk’s belt relinquishment in June.
Kabayel inherited the belt in June after Usyk stepped away from the WBC title. To establish full authority over the division, the Bochum-born fighter must now validate his status against high-level opposition.
His previous outing came on 10 January at the Rudolf Weber-Arena in Oberhausen, where he stopped Damian Knyba in three rounds. Knyba started brightly, using his superior height and jab to keep the local favorite at range. But Kabayel efficiently cut off the ring, worked his way inside, and unleashed heavy body shots to force the stoppage.
That result extended Kabayel’s streak to six consecutive wins inside the distance. Previous victories over Arslanbek Makhmudov, Frank Sánchez, and Zhilei Zhang proved Kabayel could dismantle world-class heavyweights when pressing the pace.
Promoter Frank Warren expects to announce the event’s date, venue, and opponent within days. Speaking to Pro Boxing Fans, Warren said: “He’ll fight this year and defend his title in Germany, and I can’t wait to get him on because he’s a bloody good fighter. Another exciting champion. I’m looking forward to getting all these matches together where we get the unification series going,”
Finding an opponent who adds true weight to Kabayel’s title reign remains the immediate challenge. Moses Itauma is preparing to fight Filip Hrgovic for the vacant IBF belt, with Sánchez due to meet the winner. Fabio Wardley remains tied to a second bout with Daniel Dubois, while Tyson Fury is scheduled for a November return.
Joseph Parker represents a credible candidate for a unification path. However, Warren gave no indication that negotiations with the New Zealander are taking place.
Without an elite challenger, Kabayel faces the prospect of defending against a lower-ranked opponent in Germany. A home fixture will sell tickets, but only a victory over a top contender will cement his position at the summit of the division.
