Kabayel Stops Knyba

In a highly anticipated homecoming fight, German heavyweight Agit Kabayel extended his undefeated streak to 27-0 (19 KOs) with a commanding third-round TKO victory over undefeated Polish challenger Damian Knyba on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at the sold-out Rudolf Weber Arena in Oberhausen, Germany. The bout served as the first defense of Kabayel’s WBC interim heavyweight title, which he captured in impressive fashion with a sixth-round knockout of Zhilei Zhang in February 2025.

The atmosphere was electric, with a raucous crowd of around 13,000 fans turning the event into one of the most passionate boxing spectacles in recent memory. Kabayel, the 33-year-old Bochum native fighting in Germany for the first time since 2023, was greeted like a hero and delivered accordingly.

Knyba (now 17-1, 11 KOs), the towering 6’7” Polish-American prospect, started strong in the opening rounds. Using his significant height and reach advantage, he landed sharp jabs and combinations, briefly testing Kabayel and even causing some visible damage around the champion’s eye. The challenger showed flashes of technical finesse and appeared competitive early on.

However, Kabayel quickly adjusted, turning up the pressure in the third round. Relentlessly coming forward, he unleashed a barrage of head and body shots that overwhelmed Knyba. A cut opened near Knyba’s left eye as Kabayel poured on the punishment. Referee Mark Lyson stepped in to halt the contest, deeming Knyba unable to continue amid the onslaught. While some observers called the stoppage controversial or premature, Kabayel’s dominance in the round made the outcome feel inevitable.

Post-fight, Kabayel wasted no time staking his claim for bigger things. “Give me the world title fight. I’m ready,” he declared, directly calling out unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk (WBC, WBA, IBF). The victory marks Kabayel’s sixth straight knockout, reinforcing his status as one of the division’s most dangerous punchers and a top contender ranked No. 2 by The Ring and No. 3 by BoxRec.

This performance caps a remarkable rise for Kabayel, who has scored upsets and stoppages over elite names like Arslanbek Makhmudov, Frank Sánchez, and Zhang in recent years. With promoter Queensberry Promotions and manager Spencer Brown highlighting the electric German crowd, talks of luring Usyk to Germany for a massive stadium showdown could gain traction.

Brief on the Undercard Winners

The card featured several competitive bouts, with notable results including:

• Petar Milas secured a dramatic late stoppage over Granit Shala in a cruiserweight clash, overcoming early resistance to force a finish in the final round amid controversy.

• Nelvie Tiafack picked up a solid win in his heavyweight matchup.

• Other undercard highlights included knockouts from fighters like Oronzo Birardi (fourth-round stoppage) and strong performances in preliminary action.

Overall, the event marked a successful launch for Queensberry Promotions and DAZN in the German market, with Kabayel’s explosive win stealing the show and setting the stage for an exciting 2026 in the heavyweight division.