Agit Kabayel’s (27-0, 19 KOs) first defense as full WBC heavyweight champion is being lined up for November in Germany, with his team already looking ahead to a potential European unification against IBF titleholder Filip Hrgovic (21-1, 16 KOs) in 2027.
Kabayel’s manager Spencer Brown told The Ring’s Mike Coppinger that the November fight should be finalized soon, though he stopped short of confirming Nelson Hysa as the opponent despite Hysa claiming the fight on social media.
Kabayel was elevated to full WBC champion after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the title in June. He had previously defended the interim belt with a third-round stoppage of Damian Knyba in January.
A win in November would mark Kabayel’s first defense of the full WBC heavyweight title.
Before a unification with Hrgovic can be arranged, the IBF champion has mandatory business to address. Hrgovic is expected to face Frank Sanchez, who accepted a step-aside agreement that allowed Hrgovic’s title fight with Moses Itauma to go ahead.
Hrgovic has already expressed interest in facing Kabayel and suggested Sanchez could receive another step-aside payment to allow a unification first.
Kabayel and Sanchez have history of their own, with Kabayel knocking out the Cuban in the seventh round of their 2024 WBC heavyweight title eliminator.