Error code: %{errorCode}
Heavyweight supremacy returning to Germany as the 'Homecoming' promises fireworks
Top quality heavyweight boxing returns to Germay tonight - Saturday, January 10 - as Agit Kabayel looks to take a giant step towards becoming Germany's first heavyweight world champion since Max Schmeling.
Standing in his way is Poland’s Damian Knyba, with Kabayel knowing he must win with an impressive display to finally get his world title shot. The fight and whole fight night is live and exclusive on DAZN via subscripition.
It promises to be a fight card of power house of heavy hitters - undefeated prospects, title hopefuls, and rising future-star contenders all gather in Oberhausen to let the fireworks ring out.
Here's what to look out for.
Jack and the Giant
Long ago, a boy named Jack was a simple farmhand when he was faced with an army of giants that invaded his homeland. Undefeated heavyweight Kabayel is that character’s reincarnate in the sport of boxing.
The giant in this iteration appears in the form of his opponent wit undefeated Damian Knyba, standing at 6,7”.
With both fighters averaging a 65% knockout rate, there is a good chance only one of them will be standing by the end of the night.
For Kabayel, this bout will solidify his current 26-0 run, cementing him as one of Europe’s top contenders in the heavyweight division.
From the eyes of Knyba, a win over Agit would earn him the interim belt, moving to 18-0 and unlocking an entire new chapter in the fighters promising career.
Will it be experience or size - Kabayel has defeated top tier contenders in his division, including the likes of Zhilei Zhang, Frank Sanchez, and Arslanbek Makhmudov. He’ll need to rely on that insight to be able to stand against the challenge of Knyba.
Knyba is a towering force to be reckoned with, he uses his distance to control his fights patiently and beautifully. This bout is his proving ground to catapult him from regional prospect to world title contendership.
Boris Streubel/Getty Images
The steady hand, or the heavy hand?
Fighting’s classic tale of strength against speed, pressure against precision – the tactician against the power puncher. That's what we will get with Petar Milas versus Granit Shala,spelling out three words - the perfect storm.
Milas is known for his heavy hands and ending his bouts early, while Shala is known for his ring IQ and superior movement. Granit is also riding the wave of a three fight win-steak, all of which showcased his stamina and adaptability. Petar boasts an incredible 79% knockout rate.
Both heavyweights have been paving their ways slowly, with each only being handed one loss - the latter with a strong desire to prove themselves amongst the division's elite circle. Only the one who weathers through this perfect storm will be strong enough to claim victory.
The young may walk faster, but the elder knows the road
The leaders of the new school are always finding ways to clash with the leaders of the old school - neither truly ever reigns superior over the other, but the war weighs on, battle after battle.
Jadier Herrera vs. Ricardo Nunez is a branch in that tree of destruction, and the world will be able to see the outcome of one of those battles on the night of the “Homecoming”.
Herrera is the new - this school of thought blends old school boxing styles with newer techniques to try and create the perfect fighting system.
The Cuban phenom doesn’t just throw and hope to land, he waits, baits, and strikes at the perfect opening - culminating his ring IQ with that signature Cubano footwork and blending it all together with immense power.
Nunez is the original - the ever-forward freight train of a slugger leans on his grit, his will, and his ability to withstand and outlast his opposition.
One thing you can count on before all else is your experience, and the Panamanian scientist has plenty of it - facing off against some of our current era’s greatest like Gervonta Davis.
If you had the world's best surgeon fight the world’s best butcher with all of their arsenal of weapons and skill, who would best the other?
On one hand, the butcher's cleaver is an incredibly dangerous blade, and the butcher would know exactly where to strike to break his opponent down with a few strong swings. On the other hand, the surgeon’s skillset and is near-magic, they would know their opponents most fatal weak points to attack to take his opponent out in the most efficient way possible.
That’s exactly what this battle will look like, and the winner will be crowned with the vacant WBC interim lightweight title.
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 tonight - Saturday, January 10 - exclusively on DAZN. Watch with a subscription, monthly and annual options available.
