Agit Kabayel eyes ‘dream’ unification if he beats Nelson Hysa in Düsseldorf
Agit Kabayel will make the first defence of his WBC heavyweight title against Nelson Hysa in Düsseldorf on November 28. If he wins, the 34‑year‑old says a unification bout is his ‘dream’ next step.
Agit Kabayel will defend his WBC heavyweight title against Nelson Hysa in Düsseldorf next month, headlining the Mekur Spiel Arena on Saturday, November 28. The 34‑year‑old, elevated from interim to full WBC champion after Oleksandr Usyk vacated his belts, says his immediate focus is Hysa — but has already named a unification fight as his preferred next move. Tickets for the show are selling quickly, with the event marking the first heavyweight world title contest on German soil at the venue since Tyson Fury defeated Wladimir Klitschko more than a decade ago.
Kabayel to make first WBC defence against Nelson Hysa on November 28
Agit Kabayel is scheduled to defend his WBC heavyweight title against Nelson Hysa on Saturday, November 28, in Düsseldorf. The bout will headline the Mekur Spiel Arena — the 55,000‑capacity home of Fortuna Düsseldorf — with organisers reporting strong early ticket sales. The fight is being presented as Kabayel’s first world title bout and his first full defence since he was elevated from interim champion to full WBC heavyweight world champion.
Kabayel elevated after Usyk vacated — and carries momentum from January KO
Kabayel’s rise to full WBC champion came after Oleksandr Usyk decided to vacate all three of his heavyweight world titles after his victory over Rico Verhoeven. Earlier this year, Kabayel, 34, headlined the Rudolf Weber‑Arena in Oberhausen in January, defending his WBC interim world title with a third‑round knockout of Poland’s Damian Knyba. That victory is presented as the set‑up for his current position and the step into a first world title defence against Hysa.
Kabayel names unification fight as his ‘dream’ after Hysa
Speaking to Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, Kabayel said his only focus is Hysa but added that his next ambition is a unification bout. “First of all, I will fight with Nelson. This is my only focus, for now, but after this fight I want a unification fight. This is my dream; I want all of the belts,” he said. Boxing News notes potential targets in the heavyweight division: Daniel Dubois holds the WBO title and is due to defend it in a rematch with Fabio Wardley later this month, while Filip Hrgović is the IBF champion. The WBA belt will be contested when Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua meet in December, creating several possible unification routes should Kabayel emerge victorious.
Hysa stands between Kabayel and those unification plans
Before any talk of unification can progress, Kabayel must get past Nelson Hysa in Düsseldorf. His team and promoters are casting the forthcoming defence as a test of whether he can establish himself as a genuine world champion following his elevation. With a high‑profile arena, brisk ticket sales and the heavyweight landscape featuring multiple titleholders, a successful defence would leave Kabayel positioned to press for the multi‑belt contests he describes as his ‘dream’.