Okay, let’s talk about THE heavyweight to watch right now – Agit Kabayel! If anyone had the nerve to doubt his place in the upper echelons of the division, he just obliterated them with a flawless one-sided beatdown of Zhilei Zhang this past Saturday during the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 2 event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
From the bell, Kabayel (26-0) was all over Zhang (27-3-1). It wasn’t about showing off; it was about showing who’s boss. He kept the pressure on the bigger man, hammering his body with precision. Zhang didn’t have a second to think. Then, Kabayel did what he does best – landed a clean shot to the torso that sent Zhang straight to the canvas. Game over.
Now, Kabayel wasn’t the overwhelming favorite, but when the bell rang, he made it clear this wasn’t a fair fight. He kept Zhang on his heels, throwing punches from all angles, making sure the big guy couldn’t land his deadly left hand. Kabayel was in control, plain and simple.
Zhang tried to make it interesting in Round 5 with a knockdown – yeah, he landed a solid left. But Kabayel didn’t flinch. He got up, took a breath, and by Round 6, he turned up the heat, putting Zhang down for good. That’s how you handle business.
With that performance, Kabayel’s now got every heavyweight contender looking over their shoulder. He’s the real deal—ain’t no question about it.
But let’s not forget the man behind the curtain, the one pulling the strings. Sükrü Aksu, Kabayel’s trainer, is the real secret weapon here. You don’t hear about Aksu much, and that’s a damn shame, ‘cause this guy’s a master at what he does. Aksu’s the one who’s taken Kabayel from a solid fighter to the killer we see now.
In a country like Germany, where trainers like Ulli Wegner, Fritz Sudnek, and Michael Timm are often the names everyone mentions, Aksu is still criminally underrated. And it’s high time that changes because his influence on Kabayel’s rise to the top cannot be overstated. Aksu has turned Kabayel into a force to be reckoned with, and yet he still doesn’t get the recognition he deserves.
Agit Kabayel’s journey into boxing was nothing short of remarkable, and his rise to professionalism has been anything but conventional. It all began in his teenage years when he first ventured into combat sports. “I was discovered during a carnival boxing event,” he recalls with a smile. “I must have been about 17. I challenged someone with 30 or 40 amateur fights under his belt. At that point, I had maybe just six months of serious boxing training. My brother filmed the fight and posted it on Facebook. After that, a trainer reached out, and I traveled to Wuppertal.”
It was in Wuppertal that he met the incredible Sükrü Aksu, his coach and mentor, who has played a vital role in Kabayel’s success. What’s truly remarkable is that Kabayel, unlike many other boxers such as world champion Oleksandr Usyk, who racked up over 300 amateur bouts, boldly skipped the traditional amateur route and went straight into the professional ranks.
The early years of Kabayel’s professional career were tough. He didn’t make a single penny from his first ten fights. “I walked around as a professional boxer, but no one knew I was struggling financially. I fought for free.” Despite these hardships, Kabayel’s determination and resilience never wavered. His unshakable will to succeed in the sport has made him the champion he is today.
Trainer Aksu doesn’t need the spotlight; he’s all about putting in the work. He’s got Kabayel’s head right, he’s got him mentally tough, and he knows how to call the shots without screaming for attention. While Kabayel’s out there doing his thing, Aksu’s the steady hand making sure the game plan’s followed to a T.
And those body punches? Yeah, that’s Aksu’s craft right there. He’s taught Kabayel how to break a guy down slowly, methodically, with body shots that make ‘em regret ever stepping in the ring. Kabayel’s punches aren’t just about power—they’re about setting up that final moment, that knockout punch. And Aksu’s been the one laying the groundwork.
So while Kabayel’s getting the shine he deserves, don’t forget about Aksu. The man’s been working his tail off behind the scenes, making sure Kabayel stays at the top of his game. Sükrü Aksu might not be a household name yet, but trust me, he’s as legit as they come. Respect.
Last Updated on 02/25/2025