On May 18, 2024, in Riyadh, German boxer Agit Kabayel secured a victory over Cuban opponent Frank Sanchez by a technical knockout (TKO) in the seventh round. The match took place at the Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and was pivotal for Kabayel as it positioned him as a mandatory challenger for the WBC heavyweight world title.
Kabayel's performance was strategic and dominant from the start.
In the first round, both fighters had a tentative start, with Sanchez showing more aggression. However, Kabayel managed to contain him by using his tactical skills to back Sanchez onto the ropes.
Kabayel continued to dominate in subsequent rounds, outmaneuvering Sanchez during clinches and landing significant punches like uppercuts and right hands.
The fight saw a turning point in the fourth round when there was speculation regarding Sanchez’s dissatisfaction over possibly receiving a punch behind his head. Despite this controversy, Kabayel did not falter, intensifying his attacks with precise body shots causing Sanchez to hold frequently.
By the sixth round, Kabayel was visibly leading.
The final showdown came in the seventh round where Kabayel's relentless pressure paid off; he landed numerous body shots that knocked down Sanchez twice, leading to a TKO as Sanchez failed to meet the count.
In his post-fight interview, Kabayel shared insights into his strategy and preparation for this bout:
"I trained very hard for this opportunity. I saw he was not well conditioned and I could finish the fight. My coach predicted this fight and told me to go to the body and that the finish would be there." He also hinted at taking some time off before planning any future fights with potential opponents like Joseph Parker: "I train hard for every fight but now I am looking forward to going home to my family. Maybe in two weeks we can talk."
Reflecting on his next career steps and addressing what fans might expect next from him: "The fans will say. What they want I will do,” said Kabayel.
This victory marks only one loss on Frank Sanchez’s record bringing it to 24-1 while propelling undefeated Agit Kabayel’s record further impressive standing at 25-0 which continues paving his path towards higher echelon challenges within the boxing realm as he now gears up potentially against contenders like Joseph Parker.
