WBC interim heavyweight champion Agit Kabayel is set to headline a Queensberry Promotions event on January 10 at the Rudolf Weber-Arena in Oberhausen, Germany — and his next opponent could soon be confirmed.
According to his manager Spencer Brown, the front-runners to face Kabayel are Tony Yoka and Nelson Hysa, both of whom are “in the hat” as negotiations near completion.
“You’ll hear [an announcement] in the next two or three days,” Brown told Boxing News. “We’re just trying to finish the deals and get the contracts done. There’s a few names in the hat. [Kabayel’s] been out of the ring a long time, so we’re not going to put him in with a killing machine. Hysa’s name is in the hat, Tony Yoka’s in the hat, and there’s a couple of other names as well.”
Kabayel (26-0, 18 KOs) has been inactive since his sixth-round stoppage of Zhilei Zhang in February — a breakout performance that showcased his relentless body attack and solidified his place among the division’s elite.
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That win followed emphatic victories over Frank Sanchez and Arslanbek Makhmudov, marking a run that has firmly established the 33-year-old German as a top-five heavyweight contender.
Among the potential challengers, Yoka (14-3, 11 KOs) stands out as the most proven name. The 2016 Olympic gold medallist endured a difficult stretch of three consecutive losses — to Martin Bakole, Carlos Takam, and Ryad Merhy — before rebounding with three wins to rebuild confidence. Now training under Don Charles, Yoka is hoping to reignite his once-promising career.
Meanwhile, Hysa (24-0, 22 KOs) brings an imposing knockout record but remains largely untested at world level. The 41-year-old Albanian’s power has carried him through the regional ranks, though questions remain about his effectiveness against elite opposition.
Regardless of the opponent, Kabayel’s January return marks his first bout in nearly a year — and an important step toward a potential full WBC title shot later in 2025.
