Agit Kabayel’s First World Heavyweight Title Defense Set

Agit Kabayel (27-0, 19 KOs) will make the first defense of his WBC world heavyweight championship against unbeaten Albanian Nelson Hysa (25-0, 23 KOs) on November 28 at Merkur Spiel-Arena in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Kabayel was elevated from interim champion to full in June after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the world title. Kabayel previously stopped Zhilei Zhang in the sixth round in February 2025 to win the interim belt, before defending it with a third-round stoppage of Damian Knyba on January 10.

Hysa, 42, has recorded 23 knockouts in 25 professional victories, including a second-round stoppage of the previously unbeaten Thomas Narmo on August 29. He subsequently confronted Kabayel at ringside, prompting negotiations for the title fight.

The matchup appeared to have collapsed in September when promoter Frank Warren claimed Hysa had rejected an offer, but talks subsequently resumed.

Hysa was outside the WBC’s top 15 in its September rankings. The November contest will be his first challenge for a major world championship.