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'I just realise what an idiot I was!' - Heavyweight star opens up on prison stint before homecoming bout
Agit Kabayel has reflected on his time in prison before his career, admitting that the experience "made him mature" ahead of his bout with Damian Knyba.
The German enjoys a homecoming at Oberhausen's Rudolf Weber Arena on Saturday against the Pole as he defends his WBC interim heavyweight crown.
Victory for Kabayel will further push him into the conversation for a shot at Oleksandr Usyk as the division faces a major sea change heading into 2026.
But it could have been much different for the star, who previously spent six months behind bars for aggravated assault after an altercation in his younger years.
"I was very, very young," he told DAZN. "You just mess things up. After a night out, my older brother got involved in a situation, and I got caught up in it.
"I think anyone would have done the same in that situation, seeing your brother where he needs help. But a complaint was filed and I faced legal action.
"I was nineteen at the time, young and wild. You got into fights, you got into brawls. You just thought you were the coolest, that nobody could touch you.
"That wasn't the case at all. My attitude towards everything completely changed [after imprisonment]. There were situations where I was in jail, tears flowing.
"I asked myself what I was doing there, what was I doing to my family. I said to myself that I'd never put myself in situations where I screwed things up again.
"My mother became very ill during that time. It really took a toll on her. As soon as I was released, I went straight to the hospital. I think she was there for a week.
"Every time I hold my child in my arms, I just realize what an idiot I was, what a mess I made. But these are things that have helped me mature too."
Watch Kabayel vs. Knyba with a DAZN subscription
January starts with a heavyweight bang as Agit Kabayel takes the next steps towards a world title shot as he face Damian Knyba on Saturday, January 10, exclusively on DAZN Watch with a subscription, monthly and annual options available.
