On January 10, a boxing night will take place in Oberhausen, Germany, where Ricardo Nunez (26-7, 22 KOs) and Jadier Herrera (17-0, 15 KOs) will fight for the interim WBC lightweight title. The full champion of the World Boxing Council in this weight category is Shakur Stevenson, who will face Teofimo Lopez at the end of January in the super lightweight division and may continue to perform in a heavier weight category thereafter.

Interimsweltmeister Agit Kabayel ist mitten in der Vorbereitung auf seinen nächsten Kampf, doch selbst auf dem Weg zum Training nimmt sich der Schwergewichtler Zeit für ein Gespräch mit Radio Bochum Morgenmacherin Kira Kosthorst. Im Interview spricht der Wattenscheider über seine Wurzeln, seine Motivation und das Ziel, den deutschen Boxsport wieder international sichtbar zu machen.

Agit Kabayel vs. Damian Knyba: Germany Opens 2026 With a Clash of Undefeated Heavyweights

By March 1, 2026, WBN believes the heavyweight division could look completely transformed. With Oleksandr Usyk stepping back from some of his belts, a new era of champions is emerging. Fabio Wardley has already been elevated to full WBO champion as Usyk dropped his first title. If that trend continues, Kubrat Pulev holds the WBA, Agit Kabayel has claimed the WBC, and Derek Chisora is poised to capture the IBF in what could be the crowning moment of his career. This four-way shake-up signals more than just a change in belts — it sets the stage for blockbuster fights, fresh rivalries, and fan debates that could define the early 2026 heavyweight landscape. WBO – Fabio Wardley Wardley has officially stepped into the spotlight as the WBO champion, inheriting the belt vacated by Usyk. Known for his raw power and relentless work rate, Wardley now faces the challenge of transitioning from national dominance to global contention. Key Storyline: Wardley’s first defenses will show if he can cement himself as a world-class champion or if the rapid jump exposes gaps in his experience. Potential Opponents: No mandatory challengers loom, and Wardley’s rise could spark exciting cross-division matchups with established UK contenders. WBC – Agit Kabayel By next year, the presumption is that Kabayel has claimed the WBC title in Usyk’s absence, stepping into a division historically dominated by giants like Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. His rise reflects consistent performance and perfect timing. Key Storyline: Can Kabayel maintain momentum and land a Germany title defense, or will the volatility of the heavyweight scene challenge his reign? Fan Angle: Kabayel’s reign invites debate — is he ready for the global spotlight, or a transitional champion before bigger names collide? IBF – Derek Chisora (vs. Dubois Prediction) Derek Chisora is expected to contest the vacant IBF title in his 50th professional fight — a career-defining opportunity. While Daniel Dubois was predicted to be an IBF eliminator, that bout could still happen for the red crown. The IBF title is expected to be offered to someone within the Queensberry Promotions stable, making Chisora the prime candidate. Key Storyline: A Chisora victory would crown him IBF champion and cement his legacy as one of the few fighters to finish a career with a world title. Speculative Angle: Usyk is likely to drop the IBF later for future unification or undisputed ambitions, setting up potential mega-fights down the line. Fan Debate: A Chisora vs. Dubois showdown remains tantalizing in theory, but current politics and promoter alignments suggest Chisora will take the crown first. WBA – Kubrat Pulev Kubrat Pulev has maintained his WBA “Regular” championship and is expected to solidify his reign after defending against Murat Gassiev. Known for technical skill and strategy, Pulev provides stability in a division otherwise in flux and should get the full title nod. Key Storyline: Pulev’s defenses will be crucial in positioning him as a long-term champion amid the rise of Wardley and Kabayel. Fan Angle: Pulev’s calculated style contrasts with the explosive unpredictability of other contenders, offering a different kind of championship narrative. The Heavyweight Grid – March 1, 2026 WBO: Fabio Wardley – Elevated after Usyk vacates, first global defenses ahead WBC: Agit Kabayel – Stepping into the spotlight, potential breakout star IBF: Derek Chisora – Final career fight, high-stakes showdown, legacy-defining; Dubois prediction scenario included WBA: Kubrat Pulev – Defending title, stabilizing presence, veteran leadership What This Means for the Division Fresh Rivalries: With four new champions, blockbuster fights are on the horizon — Wardley vs. Chisora, Pulev vs. Kabayel, and potential cross-belt unification bouts could define 2026. Fan Engagement: Fans will debate who is the “real” heavyweight king and whether these champions can live up to the legacy of Usyk. Legacy & Legacy-Building: Chisora finishing his career with a world title, Wardley emerging on the global stage, and Kabayel and Pulev solidifying their positions set up compelling narratives for analysts and fans alike. Future Unification: Usyk’s eventual relinquishing of belts creates the blueprint for mega unification fights, keeping the division in the headlines for years to come. About the Author Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a veteran boxing reporter with 15+ years’ experience. He has interviewed dozens of world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside at the sport’s most significant events since founding WBN in 2010. Read full bio.

Germany’s 95-year heavyweight drought is on the verge of collapsing, and it all comes down to Agit Kabayel. The WBC interim champion finds himself perfectly positioned to rewrite national boxing history, benefiting from the seismic breakup of the undisputed heavyweight division. The path to the world title has cleared dramatically for Kabayel, who is now the organization’s top mandatory contender. The recent move by Oleksandr Usyk to relinquish his WBO belt has instantly shifted the pressure onto the WBC. The body must now determine whether to elevate its interim champion, Kabayel, to the full world title. A definitive ruling could arrive before Kabayel’s monumental January 10 “Homecoming” event at the Rudolf Weber-Arena in Oberhausen. Kabayel’s Path to the WBC title Should the WBC follow the WBO’s recent example in elevating its interim champion—as it did with Fabio Wardley—Kabayel would secure the coveted green-and-gold belt immediately. Even if Usyk retains the WBC title for now, Kabayel remains the official frontrunner for a massive super-fight at home in Germany by summer 2026. This would deliver the country a sporting spectacle not witnessed in decades. The immediate hurdle for Kabayel is his January 10 bout against Poland’s Damian Knyba. Although Kabayel holds the interim championship, WBN understands the Kabayel vs Knyba contest has special dispensation to be for the interim strap. This is because Knyba’s WBC ranking, currently 38th, places him well outside the required top 15 list for a title defense. For WBN, this could mean WBC would hold off on any official belt elevation until after the Homecoming event is concluded. Fabio Wardley – New WBO Champion In the meantime, addressing the WBO’s decision to crown a new champion, Kabayel congratulated the new titleholder. “All the best, Fabio Wardley – he truly deserves it,” the 33-year-old told sport.de. He also commended the organization’s swift action, noting: “It’s cool that the WBO has also stood up for its athlete, that they are doing their job.” However, Kabayel expressed caution about his own sanctioning body. He admits he doesn’t know “whether the WBC will be strictly on top of things, declare mandatory status (i.e., compel Usyk to fight Kabayel, ed.) and exert pressure. We don’t know that.” For now, the focus is strictly on the immediate challenge. “I’m concentrating on January 10 right now,” Kabayel stated. “If it turns out to be a world championship fight, all the better for German boxing. And if not, then not. I have to win either way. Everything else comes after that.” A Homecoming Event to Remember The January 10 fight is a blockbuster DAZN-Queensberry co-promoted “Homecoming” event. It is proudly being called “the biggest on German soil since the Klitschko era.” Kabayel’s high-profile return is designed to set the stage for potentially luring undisputed champion Usyk to the region for a massive clash in late 2026. Queensberry Promotions’ Frank Warren echoed the gravity of the event: “Our aim is to bring the biggest nights in boxing back to Germany.” Boente: Kabayel Ready for the Big Stage Legendary heavyweight manager Bernd Boente, who famously guided Wladimir Klitschko through his peak years, exclusively told WBN that Kabayel’s chances depend entirely on timing and political positioning. “With an undisputed champion like Usyk, waiting is always a problem for the official challengers,” Boente explained. “Hopefully Agit sometime in 2026.” Boente then provided the ultimate upside: “However, if Usyk retires before then, Kabayel could be crowned WBC champion almost overnight.” He concluded: “That would be a richly deserved reward for decades of perseverance.” The German star’s impressive unbeaten record (26-0, 18 KOs) and recent victories over Arslanbek Makhmudov, Frank Sánchez, and Zhilei Zhang cement Boente’s assessment. Germany Awaits Its Next Heavyweight Champion Boente firmly believes Kabayel can restore the nation’s love for the heavyweight division. “A world title for Agit would be something very special for German boxing,” Boente emphasized. “It would give the sport a boost that hasn’t been seen since the Klitschkos.” He reiterated the historical significance: “Agit would be the first German heavyweight world champion since the great Max Schmeling in 1930.” About the Author Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a veteran reporter with more than 15 years of experience covering boxing. He has interviewed dozens of world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside at the sport’s biggest events since founding WBN in 2010. Read full bio.

The interim WBC world heavyweight champion Agit Kabayel reacted to Anthony Joshua's agreement to fight the video blogger Jake Paul.

YouTube video by GARNEKSPORTS👊

Agit Kabayel wants to lure Oleksandr Usyk into a blockbuster stadium clash in Germany next year.

Alors que Tony Yoka a signé le contrat pour affronter l'Allemand Agit Kabayel, champion WBC des lourds par intérim, le 10 janvier prochain à Oberhausen, ce dernier préfère finalement défendre sa ceinture contre le Polonais Damian Knyba.

Agit Kabayel (26-0, 18 KO) and Damian Knyba (17-0, 11 KO) began promoting their fight for the interim WBC heavyweight world title. The boxers met at a press conference ahead of the fight scheduled for January 10 in Oberhausen, Germany.

Agit Kabayel and Damian Knyba met face to face for the first time on Wednesday in Düsseldorf, Germany, at a kickoff press conference to promote their

Agit Kabayel and Damian Knyba met face to face for the first time on Wednesday in Düsseldorf, Germany, at a kickoff press conference to promote their

Pazarcıklı ağır siklet dünya şampiyonu Agit Kabayel, 10 Ocak 2026 tarihinde Almanya Oberhausen Arenada ringe çıkacak. Agit Kabayel sadece bir boksör değil; Kürt halkının gururu, direnci ve azminin yaşayan sembolüdür. Yolun açık olsun Agit! Agit Kabayel, kariyerine adım attığı günden bu yana varını yoğunu ortaya koyarak mücadele etti. Her maçında sadece şampiyonluk için değil, aynı zamanda köklerini, kültürünü ve Kürt halkının onurunu temsil ediyor.

MVP moving event to December, hunting for new foe; Hearn: Joshua will be back this year; Matchroom to put on 1st show in Africa; Buatsi gets controversial win in awful fight; Quick hits; Show & tell

Heavyweight boxing returns to Europe with a clash of undefeated fighters.

Kabayel Defends WBC Interim Heavyweight Title Against Undefeated Giant Knyba in Germany

WBC interim heavyweight champion Agit Kabayel (26-0, 18 KOs) will be taking a stay busy fight against the unranked Damian Knyba (17-0, 11 KOs), live on DAZN on January 10, 2026, at the Rudolf Weber-Arena, Oberhausen, Germany. Knyba, 29, is useful for Kabayel to get some rounds in, as he'll be coming off an 11-month layoff since knocking out Zhilei Zhang in the sixth round on February 22, 2025.

Pulmonary EmboliiMon Nov 3, 2025, 1:13 PM UTC