Kabayel's victory came as a surprise to many. Zhang, known as 'Big Bang', had built a reputation for his hard-hitting southpaw style. At 41, the Chinese boxer's power remained a threat, but his tendency to tire in later rounds proved his undoing.
The fight followed the expected pattern early on. Zhang landed heavy shots, including a left hook in the fifth that floored Kabayel. But the German showed resilience, weathering the storm and sticking to his game plan.
In the post-fight interview, Kabayel revealed his strategy:
"Every training we go to the body, go to the head. My coach said after the fifth round you will see he has no condition. You will break him. And you see, I broke him."
Addressing the knockdown, Kabayel downplayed its impact:
"No, Zhang has a very hard punch but when he punched me that time I didn't see it, that was the problem. He punched me, I go down and I stand up. That punch was not hard. In my head I was crazy – I was going to fight [when I got back up]. My coach said, 'don't fight, wait.' Okay, I waited and you seen I brought him down."
This win marks a significant turning point for Kabayel. His career had stagnated in the heavyweight division, but recent victories over Arslanbek Makhmudov and Frank Sanchez have put him back on track. Now, with the WBC Interim title, he's edging closer to a world title shot.
Kabayel's professional record shows a fighter on the rise. His next move could potentially involve a clash with unified champion Oleksandr Usyk.
For Zhang, the future looks less certain. The loss puts a dent in his aspirations at the top level of the heavyweight division.
The fight, part of the Riyadh Season promotion, showcased the unpredictable nature of heavyweight boxing. It proved once again that in this division, one punch can change everything.