Zhilei Zhang and Agit Kabayel will face off in a heavyweight clash this Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The fighters will compete for the WBC Interim Title, with the winner getting a shot at Oleksandr Usyk's WBC belt.
China's 'Big Bang' Zhang has made waves in the heavyweight division recently. He put himself on the map with two knockout wins over Joe Joyce. After a loss on points to Joseph Parker, Zhang bounced back with a fifth-round stoppage of Deontay Wilder. This win put him back at the top of the division.
Zhang has become one of the most exciting fighters to watch in the heavyweight class. He's known for his powerful punches, but he's had issues with his gas tank in the past.
On the other side of the ring, Germany's Kabayel has caught the eye of fans and matchmakers with his recent performances. He scored early finishes against Arslanbek Makhmudov and Frank Sanchez.
Kabayel's career has been up and down. He was quiet in the division for years before his recent impressive showings. Back in 2017, he won the European title in a forgettable fight against Derek Chisora in Monaco. His recent fights have been much more exciting.
Derek Chisora, who fought Kabayel before, will be at ringside for the fight. He shared his thoughts on the match:
"I think I'm more excited about the Chinese power and Kabayel. I think if Zhang gasses out, he's gonna get knocked out."
Chisora thinks Kabayel could stop Zhang if Zhang's gas tank isn't up to scratch.
The winner of this fight will be in line to challenge Oleksandr Usyk for the WBC belt. Daniel Dubois holds the IBF title, and there's talk of an undisputed clash soon. Dubois was supposed to fight on this card but had to pull out due to a viral infection.
This heavyweight showdown promises to be an exciting fight with big implications for the division.
