Agit Kabayel retained his interim WBC heavyweight title on Saturday night in Oberhausen, though the fight required early adjustment rather than a clean run. What was confirmed was the stoppage in round three. What was suggested was control through pressure and body work. What remains unresolved is how Kabayel measures against the top end of the heavyweight division once the early resistance is removed.
Kabayel began under strain. Damian Knyba used height, reach, and an awkward jab to dictate the first round, opening a cut on Kabayel’s right eyelid. The German-based contender absorbed it without panic, but the opening three minutes showed that the size gap was not theoretical.
When the Range Closed, the Fight Shifted
The change came quickly in round two. Kabayel shortened the distance and worked behind compact pressure, taking away the jab by stepping inside it. His punches to the body slowed Knyba’s feet, and the exchanges moved from long range into tight quarters where Kabayel was more comfortable.
By the third, the pattern was set. A right hand from Kabayel opened a cut near Knyba’s left eye, and sustained body shots began to show effect. Knyba’s balance faded. Referee Mark Lyson stepped in at 2:36 of the round as Knyba reeled without a clear answer. Kabayel moved to 27-0 with 19 knockouts. Knyba dropped to 17-1.
The crowd reaction afterward pointed ahead rather than back. Calls for Oleksandr Usyk were loud, though no official direction followed. Queensberry Promotions has indicated interest, but there is no confirmed next fight. For now, Kabayel holds an interim title and momentum, not a mandatory path.
Undercard Outcomes Raised Their Own Issues
The co-main event ended in confusion. Granit Shala and Peter Milas traded rounds in a close heavyweight battle until Milas dropped Shala hard in the tenth. Shala rose but was hurt again. Milas signaled for a stoppage. None came. He landed another right that sent Shala down once more. The towel was thrown without being seen. The referee completed the count and waved it off at 1:29. Milas claimed the IBF intercontinental title, moving to 20-1. Shala fell to 18-2.
Nelson Birchall accepted late notice and stopped Wilbert Panttin between rounds five and six after sustained punishment. Birchall moves to 10-0 and stays active ahead of a scheduled bout in two weeks. Panttin fell to 7-7.
At lightweight, Jadier Herrera overcame a first-round knockdown to stop Ricardo Núñez in the eighth and claim the vacant interim WBC title. The ending drew attention. Referee Daniel Van de Wiele became tangled during the stoppage attempt and fell, delaying the final wave-off. Herrera is now 18-0. Núñez drops to 26-8. The result stands, though the sequence left room for debate.
Roman Fury stopped Kevin Greenwood in four rounds after unanswered punishment. Nelvie Tiafack opened the card with a second-round stoppage of Piotr Cwik.
Across the card, results were clear. The broader direction was not.
People keep hyping up Herrera but he got knocked down early. If Nuñez had more power he would’ve finished him. Just cause you win don’t mean you the better fighter every time 💯.
Roman Fury only wins cause of his name, if he wasn’t Tyson’s brother nobody would care. Greenwood had a trash record already, so beating him don’t mean nothing really.
That Milas guy only won cause Shala got hurt bad and couldn’t see right. If the ref did his job earlier, it wouldn’t have ended like that. Bad way to win a belt.
I don’t get why people think Kabayel is that good. Knyba was barely fighting back after the first round. It’s easy to win when your opponent ain’t doing much. Not impressive 🤷♂️.