Agit Kabayel Named WBC Heavyweight Champion After Usyk Relinquishes Titles

Germany’s 33‑year‑old boxer Agit Kabayel, who was on holiday in Spain, was elevated by the WBC to full heavyweight world champion after Ukrainian champion Oleksandr Usyk gave up his unified belts. Kabayel becomes the first German heavyweight world champion since Max Schmeling in 1932 and the first Kurdish champion. He previously secured the WBC interim title in early 2025 by knocking out China’s Zhilei Zhang and defended it in Oberhausen against Damian Knyba. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman congratulated him via video call and his promoter called the day “historic for German boxing.” Kabayel described the news as “indescribable” on Instagram. He hopes to fight in Germany in the autumn, though the opponent and venue remain undecided. Usyk, now 39, declined a title defence, leaving Kabayel’s promotion without an in‑ring contest, a point noted by former boxer Axel Schulz.