How Tyson Fury helped revive the career of heavyweight rival

Agit Kabayel stands on the brink of boxing immortality.

On Saturday, the Bochum native will first face Poland’s Damian Knyba, after which the path is expected to lead toward a world title fight.

The goal is clear: Kabayel wants to become the first German heavyweight world champion since Max Schmeling.

Just a few years ago, such a rise seemed unthinkable to outsiders. Although Kabayel made a name for himself as European champion back in 2016 and defeated, among others, Derek Chisora, experts only truly began to take notice of him after his three victories in Saudi Arabia over the past couple of years.

His win in December 2023 against Arslanbek Makhmudov - who was widely regarded at the time as a future world champion - was a moderate surprise and marked Kabayel’s international breakthrough. Subsequent victories over highly ranked contenders Frank Sanchez and Zhilei Zhang catapulted him to the top end of the rankings.

The fact that Kabayel even got the opportunity to fight Makhmudov was largely thanks to the advocacy of Tyson Fury. The two met during sparring sessions in 2016, and over the following years, a friendship developed. That relationship helped Kabayel get his big chance.

“He was number one with the IBF for a long time, and he was just fighting to stay afloat without really going anywhere, without really doing anything,” Fury recalled in an interview with DAZN.

The German had been “frozen for three years,” according to Fury - but 'The Gypsy King' believed in him.

“Then there was an opportunity to put him on the fight card in Saudi Arabia, and I suggested him. Everyone asked, ‘Who is that? Who is this guy?’ I said, ‘Trust me, he can fight. He will fight big,'” Fury added.

“Everyone thought Makhmudov would knock him out in a few rounds. But I said, ‘No, it’ll be fine. He can fight. Agit can fight.’ I remember being in Monaco in 2017 and watching him fight Derek Chisora - that was a good fight."

More to come from Kabayel 

And the Leverkusen-born fighter delivered. According to Fury, the German is far from reaching his full potential - quite the opposite: the world has not yet seen the complete Agit Kabayel, and his skill set is far broader than what he has shown so far.

“I know Agit - he can box. Just going forward and working the body is not all he’s capable of. He also has good boxing skills,” Fury explained.

“He has a good jab, good footwork. I even taught him the triple step, how to move around using the triple step.”

These qualities could take Kabayel all the way to the top - to a place no German heavyweight has reached since Max Schmeling. But first, on Saturday in Oberhausen, Kabayel will face Knyba.

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.

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