What next for Agit Kabayel?

[RichardHarrow]

I think finally he is gaining momentum. However:

Secluding to Germany won't help. Before Usyk he needs a step up in comp quality against someone more technical (not that the HW division is prevalent with talent atm) He is used to fighters standing in front of him which is nothing like Usyk. Further, he gets hit way too much. He needs to learn some head movement/ better defense or improved footwork. He lacks all three.

He is however resilient with consistent bodyshots.

Would like to see him against either Dubois, Wardley, Parker, maybe even Itauma before Usyk.

 

[Misery Signals]

He is the most deserving opponent for Usyk right now but we're getting Wilder instead. Next best fight for him is Wardley. That would be really good.

 

[MMALOPEZ]

Face the winner of Usyk vs Wilder in the second half of 2026

 

[Kovalev's "Man Bag"]

Now that he's beaten the mighty Knyba it'll likely be Usyk next (should he get past Wilder which he will). Kabayel is the best body puncher I've seen at heavyweight, maybe ever, but like you said TS it works so well for him because his opponents stand right in front of him. Usyk obviously isn't going to do that.

 

[Mujeriego]

Now that he's beaten the mighty Knyba it'll likely be Usyk next (should he get past Wilder which he will). Kabayel is the best body puncher I've seen at heavyweight, maybe ever, but like you said TS it works so well for him because his opponents stand right in front of him. Usyk obviously isn't going to do that.

Top 5 HW body puncher ever you could argue.
I think Frazier still tops the list followed by Foreman.

 

[Kovalev's "Man Bag"]

Top 5 HW body puncher ever you could argue.
I think Frazier still stops the list followed by Foreman.

He's a relentless body puncher. To see him frequently hurting and stopping guys there, despite not being a big puncher, is impressive. Most heavyweights aren't prepared to defend against it and he's exploiting that for all it's worth. Usyk's mobile but has never been that good at defending his body, either. Kabayel's sustained body work threatens them all in that regard. However, as I've said before, at times he does rely on it too much (gets greedy) and leaves himself open to counters upstairs. His main strength may also end up being what costs him against a sharp counterpuncher with pop.

 

[treelo]

i think he would batter Wardley and Parker, i think Parker may be done at this point so i would welcome a fight against Wardley

Usyk will pick him apart quite easily

 

[RichardHarrow]

He's a relentless body puncher. To see him frequently hurting and stopping guys there, despite not being a big puncher, is impressive. Most heavyweights aren't prepared to defend against it and he's exploiting that for all it's worth. Usyk's mobile but has never been that good at defending his body, either. Kabayel's sustained body work threatens them all in that regard. However, as I've said before, at times he does rely on it too much (gets greedy) and leaves himself open to counters upstairs. His main strength may also end up being what costs him against a sharp counterpuncher with pop.

As i said in OP he gets hit far too much. Maybe a bit more than usual last night. He did say to Radio Raheem that it was nerves given the pressure of home turf and big crowd. I do believe him. The Riyadh stadiums aren't exactly energetic ( I was there to watch him beat Sanchez).

If he just employed better defense/head movement/ footwork he'd be great but I don't see him changing his game plan much for the more refined fighters and that could cost him. I think its a toss up against Wardley/ Dubois.

 

[tank666]

Would like to see him fight Wardley otherwise Fury assuming AJ fight isnt happening.

 

[codfather]

If Usyk is tied up with Wilder, then Wardley makes the most sense for Agit, though if I was Agit's manager, I'd recommend he just wait for Usyk.

Dubois will have more leverage in negotiations with Agit or Wardley if he's coming off a win. He'd be a strong fav against Chisora, and that fight would do numbers in the UK, since their bouts with Joyce would add an interesting promotional angle.

Come to think of it, it's a little strange that Usyk vs Wilder hasn't been officially announced yet, given that as far as I know, there are no real barriers to making it, and their teams were already talking like six weeks ago.

 

[Jonny Ninja]

i think he would batter Wardley and Parker, i think Parker may be done at this point so i would welcome a fight against Wardley

Usyk will pick him apart quite easily

I think he probably beats Parker but not sure on wardley. He’s a great body puncher but he goes downstairs so often that he’s fairly predictable. The risk of going to the body is your chins vulnerable. He’ll certainly outbox Fabio but he’s gonna be walking a tightrope for much of the fight

 

[treelo]

we have a nice little movement in the division at the moment, you have Fury who is trying to come back but who is he going to fight?

then you have Joshua, who according to his uncle from Nigeria has retired, or Kabayel...who looks like the best beneath Usyk for me, but still doesnt look great, just competent, beating Sanchez and Zhang isnt really a good barometer for how good he actually is

then we have the likes of Parker and Dubois who are coming off stoppage losses and were nearly men based on wins against guys who don't really want to take the sport seriously anymore

 

[SuperLuigi]

I guess Parker will want a rebound fight but after that him, assuming neither get booked vs Usyk.

 

[ryanrandy]

He is far and away the most deserving challenger to Usyk. I didnt think he would get by those giants he fought. Sucks thst politics gets in the way again. I feel like he's not difficult to hit so I worry that he will get caught before he ever gets Usyk or whoever if he retires.

 

[Kovalev's "Man Bag"]

As i said in OP he gets hit far too much. Maybe a bit more than usual last night. He did say to Radio Raheem that it was nerves given the pressure of home turf and big crowd. I do believe him. The Riyadh stadiums aren't exactly energetic ( I was there to watch him beat Sanchez).

If he just employed better defense/head movement/ footwork he'd be great but I don't see him changing his game plan much for the more refined fighters and that could cost him. I think its a toss up against Wardley/ Dubois.

He does get hit too much but to be fair we could say the same for the rest of the division with the exception of Usyk, who hasn't been hit much in his last couple fights, and Itauma, who has yet to be tested/extended in a fight. Having said that it would be nice to see Kabayel incorporate some head movement into his game and tighten up his defense in general.

 

[Mujeriego]

Agit vs Wardley is the fight to make if Usyk fights Wilder.

 

[RichardHarrow]

He does get hit too much but to be fair we could say the same for the rest of the division with the exception of Usyk, who hasn't been hit much in his last couple fights, and Itauma, who has yet to be tested/extended in a fight. Having said that it would be nice to see Kabayel incorporate some head movement into his game and tighten up his defense in general.

Yep Absolutely. He’s good at getting in on the inside and landing with a great punch selection. That will definitely trouble Wardley/ Dubois but they hit quite hard and they will land. And Wardley lands a lot.

Agit however lacks the movement to keep up with Usyk.