Results: Kabayel Defends Interim WBC Title in Impressive Victory

Agit Kabayel successfully defended his interim WBC heavyweight title in Oberhausen, Germany, on Saturday night, defeating Poland’s Damian Knyba in dominant fashion. The German-born fighter faced an early challenge, struggling with Knyba’s awkward style and long jab in the first round, which led to a cut on his right eyelid. However, Kabayel regained control in the second round, finding his rhythm with effective shots to both the head and body.

By the third round, Kabayel had begun to wear down Knyba, landing a solid right hand that opened a cut over Knyba’s left eye. The Polish fighter seemed to wilt under the pressure as Kabayel’s consistent body shots and right hands took their toll. Knyba’s legs appeared unsteady as he staggered around the ring, prompting referee Mark Lyson to step in and halt the bout at 2:36 of the third round, protecting Knyba from further damage. With the win, Kabayel improved his record to 27 0 with 19 knockouts, while Knyba dropped to 17-1 with 11 knockouts. The crowd of 13,000 in attendance showed their enthusiasm, chanting “Usyk” in reference to unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, signaling a potential next challenge for Kabayel.

Co-Main Event Features Intense Battle Between Shala and Milas

The co-main event saw Granit Shala defend his IBF international heavyweight title against Peter Milas in a closely contested battle. The fight, which was difficult to score over nine rounds, saw both fighters taking turns controlling the action. In the tenth round, Milas landed a powerful right hand that dropped Shala hard to the canvas. Shala, with a badly cut left eye, managed to rise but was quickly overwhelmed by Milas’s continued pressure.

Despite Shala’s attempt to continue, Milas seized the moment, landing another hard right hand that sent Shala down once more. While the referee hesitated to stop the fight, Milas took matters into his own hands and landed another blow, forcing the referee to finally stop the bout at 1:29 of the final round. Milas won the IBF intercontinental heavyweight title, improving his record to 20-1 with 16 knockouts. Shala, who suffered his second career defeat, now holds a record of 18-2 with 7 knockouts.

In other action, Nelson Birchall from the UK stepped in to replace an injured fighter on short notice and dominated Wilbert Panttin of Spain, forcing Panttin to retire after the fifth round. Birchall now holds an unbeaten record of 10-0 with 7 knockouts. Panttin drops to 7-7 with 4 knockouts.

Jadier Herrera of Dubai, by way of Cuba, secured the vacant interim WBC lightweight title in an exciting battle against Panama’s Ricardo Nuñez. Despite being knocked down early in the first round, Herrera fought back and eventually took control of the bout. After a series of strong punches in the fifth round, Herrera rocked Nuñez along the ropes, and with Nuñez visibly hurt, referee Daniel Van de Wiele intervened in the eighth round at 2:15, ending the fight in Herrera’s favor. Herrera’s record now stands at 18-0 with 16 knockouts, while Nuñez falls to 26-8 with 22 knockouts.

Roman Fury, the younger brother of Tyson Fury, added another win to his record, stopping Kevin Greenwood in the fourth round with a standing stoppage at 2:52. Fury is now 6-0 with 3 knockouts, while Greenwood’s record drops to 6-12 with 1 knockout.

Lastly, former German Olympian Nelvie Tiafack made quick work of Poland’s Piotr Cwik, dropping him in the second round before the referee stopped the fight at 1:50 of the same round. Tiafack is now 3-0 with 3 knockouts, while Cwik falls to 9-6 with 8 knockouts.

The event showcased a mix of dominant performances and competitive battles, further establishing the fighters’ reputations within their respective divisions.