Agit Kabayel’s long wait for heavyweight recognition has finally reached a historic breakthrough.
Barely 24 hours after Oleksandr Usyk announced that he would vacate his three remaining heavyweight world titles, Kabayel was elevated from WBC interim champion to full WBC heavyweight titleholder, marking a major turning point not only in his career, but in boxing history.
The undefeated Kurdish-German heavyweight, who owns a professional record of 27 wins with 19 knockouts, now stands as the first Kurdish heavyweight world champion. He also becomes the first German heavyweight champion since Max Schmeling captured the crown in 1932, ending a 94-year wait for Germany at the very top of boxing’s most famous division.
While Kabayel did not win the belt in the ring against Usyk, his elevation was hardly without merit. Over the last several years, he has built one of the strongest résumés among active heavyweight contenders, defeating dangerous names and consistently proving that he belongs among the elite. His stoppage victories over Zhilei Zhang and Damian Knyba helped establish him as the leading WBC contender and strengthened his case for a full world title opportunity.
For months, Kabayel had made it clear that he wanted the chance to unify against Usyk, the two-division champion and former undisputed king whose technical brilliance helped define this heavyweight era. Instead, Usyk’s decision to relinquish the belts opened the door for the WBC interim champion to be moved into full champion status.
Kabayel responded with class, praising Usyk’s decision to step aside rather than hold up the division while deciding his next move. The Ukrainian’s announcement has been framed as part of the final chapter of his decorated career, with Usyk hinting that one last fight still awaits him before he fully walks away from the sport.
For Kabayel, however, the moment belongs to the present. After 15 years as a professional, he now carries a world title and the weight of history with him. His rise represents a proud moment for Kurdish fans across the world, German boxing, and a heavyweight division now entering a new era after Usyk’s reign.
The announcement reportedly followed a Zoom call involving WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman, members of the sanctioning body’s board, and Team Kabayel, led by Queensberry CEO George Warren and manager Spencer Brown. Usyk’s decision came as a surprise, but the WBC moved quickly to clarify the championship picture.
Kabayel celebrated the achievement by thanking his supporters and promising that his reign is only beginning.
“I will do everything I can to hold this belt for a long time and add even more titles to my collection,” Kabayel said.
Now the question shifts from whether Kabayel deserves his place to how long he can keep it. The heavyweight division remains loaded with contenders, former champions, rising prospects, and major-money fights waiting to be made. As WBC champion, Kabayel will no longer be chasing the division’s biggest names. They will be chasing him.
For a fighter who spent years waiting for the world to recognize his value, Agit Kabayel now has the belt, the platform, and the history-making status to prove that his time has arrived.
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