Agit Kabayel is the new WBC heavyweight champion. The German contender was elevated from interim status after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the title rather than proceed with a mandatory defense, officially crowning Kabayel without a punch being thrown for the belt.
The promotion concludes a patient and methodical campaign for the title. Kabayel first secured his mandatory position by stopping Zhilei Zhang in February 2025 to win the interim championship. He maintained his status and stayed active with a knockout victory over Damian Knyba in January of this year. His strategy was built on forcing the sanctioning body’s hand. By winning the interim belt and holding his ground as the top challenger, he ensured he could not be bypassed.
The WBC had ordered negotiations between the Usyk and Kabayel camps, setting a June 30 deadline before a purse bid would determine the fight’s promotional rights. Usyk’s decision to vacate the belt ahead of that deadline cleared the path for the 32-year-old German. It was a calculated move that paid off.
Kabayel now holds a perfect 27-0 record with 19 knockouts and enters the top tier of the heavyweight division. His elevation reshapes the title picture, introducing a new champion just as Usyk prepares for what is expected to be his final professional bout. For Kabayel, the wait is over. He is a world champion, and the focus now shifts to who will be the first to challenge his reign.
