‘We can sell out a stadium’: Agit Kabayel sends message to Oleksandr Usyk

25 November 2025, North Rhine-Westphalia, Duesseldorf: Heavyweight boxer Agit Kabayel prepares for his next fight at the UDF Gym. The German heavyweight boxer Kabayel wants to defend his interim WBC title against Poland's Damian Knyba on January 10, 2026 in Oberhausen. Photo: Rolf Vennenbernd/dpa (Photo by Rolf Vennenbernd/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Agit Kabayel may be on the outside looking in with respects to a potential shot at Oleksandr Usyk, but he makes his pitch to Usyk for a big showdown in Germany. Kabayel says he’s a bigger name than Usyk may realize in the country, and firmly believes they could sell out a stadium with a title fight.

To begin Kabayel was asked about his thoughts on Usyk taking on kickboxer Rico Vanhoeven.

“You know, first about Usyk fight with Rico, and I think for the fight fans, for the boxing fans this is the biggest fight we can make now,” Kabayel said. “Now he fight with Anthony Joshua, he fight with Tyson Fury, he fight with Daniel Dubois and when he win with Rico, why not Kabayel with Usyk in Germany? I think we can easy, easy sell out a stadium.”

Kabayel then was asked why he thinks he’s gotten so little consideration from Usyk.

“I think ‘Kabayel name is not too big’, you know, but too much risk.I think he’s not scared, but I think he’s a big sportsman. I respect him a lot, he’s a very good boxer. I think he thinks Kabayel is not a big name but when he sees this, come to Germany, we’ll sell out the arena stadium easy, and after this he will understand Kabayel is really big name in Germany.”

Kabayel is currently Usyk’s mandatory challenger as WBC interim champion, and much of the heavyweight field is waiting to see whether or not he’ll take on top challengers or vacate.