Agit Kabayel vs. Damian Knyba: Who has the edge heading into their fight?

A potential mega bout with unified heavyweight ruler Oleksandr Usyk is in the balance Saturday night, when WBC interim titleholder Agit Kabayel clashes with fellow unbeaten boxer Damian Knyba at Rudolf Weber Arena in Oberhausen, German, and live on DAZN.

Kabayel (26-0, 18 KOs) is coming off his biggest win to date, producing a barrage of punishing body shots to overcome a fifth-round knockdown and stop Zhilei Zhang inside of six rounds last February. The German heavyweight faces undefeated Polish fighter Knyba (17-0, 11 KOs) who recorded three victories in 2025 including October’s seventh-round TKO of Joey Dawejko in Brooklyn, New York.

Will Kabayel show the boxing world that his bundle of skills are ready to challenge Usyk’s sweet science brilliance? Or will Knyba pull off the upset, ruin Kabayel’s homecoming and snatch the interim WBC title for himself?

As the anticipation builds, DAZN News weighs in on who has the edge between these heavyweights.

Boxing Styles

Agit Kabayel is renowned for his unrelenting, crunching deposits to the body which tend to methodically break opponents down, forcing them to lower their guard in attempt to protect their midsection.

As he touches the body with those prodding shots, he is also prone to pop-shot upstairs — something the 6-foot-7 Damian Knyba will have to account for.

The 6-foot-7 Knyba will own four inches of height advantage with eight inches of reach edge against Kabayel. Knyba is a fighter who uses his height and reach well, prodding away at opponents behind the jab and knowing how to close the distance when needed.

Kabayel will need to get inside of his reach and his banging shots to the body should help. Close category with Kabayel getting the slight nod.

Edge: Kabayel

Power

Both heavyweights have power and pop to their punch. But Kabayel’s ability to rip the body with ferocity often renders opponents debilitated.

It is fight-changing ability that sways the power needle in his favor.

Edge: Kabayel

Mental Warfare

Kabayel has been installed as the betting favorite entering this bout at home in Germany. However, consider this: just as there is pressure in the form of hostilities fighting in another boxer’s hometown or country, there is pressure that comes with hosting duties as well that Kabayel will have to endure.

That said, rising off the canvas to hand Zhang a crushing defeat was a character-building win.

A wave of confidence comes with that kind of quality victory that Kabayel can build on.

Edge: Kabayel

Who has the edge in Kabayel vs. Knyba?

DAZN News has the edge residing with Kabayel, 3-0. Knyba should be another rugged test, but one the German fighter is capable of acing adding to his ledger and upward trajectory.