By Boxing Bob Newman
After some tense back-and-forth negotiations, it looks like WBC heavyweight champion Agit Kabayel will finally defend his title against undefeated Albanian Nelson Hysa on November 28 in Düsseldorf, Germany, at the MERKUR SPIEL-ARENA.
Earlier last week, Fightnews reported that five other contenders were being considered for the opportunity: France’s Tony Yoka (15-3), US-based Italian Guido Vianello (14-3-2), US-based Ukrainian Andrii Novotskyi (16-0), Croatian Petar Milas (21-1), and Dane Kem Ljungquist (20-1).
Hysa was lurking in the background, having apparently called out Kabayel after scoring his own KO win over previously undefeated Thomas Narmo (14-0) on the Moses Itauma–Filip Hrgovic card on August 29.
Hysa had a promising amateur start… twenty-five years ago. After a string of scrapes with the law, being shot, jail stints, etc., Hysa turned pro at 37 years of age, notching a 25-0, 23 KOs record. He is ranked by the WBO and WBA, but not in the WBC’s current September ratings. That will likely change when the October ratings come out.
For his part, Kabayel is hoping a spectacular win will launch him into a unification bout against newly minted IBF champion Filip Hrgovic in 2027.
