ARTICLE AD BOX
The expected match between Zhilei Zhang and Agit Kabayel met all expectations. These two heavyweights fought for the interim WBC heavyweight title, and the German fighter won. The Chinese boxer entered the match with great respect for his opponent, saying that Kabayel is the best boxer.
Zhang is known for his power, especially in the early rounds, and this was no surprise. Kabayel and his team prepared a great tactic that eventually led them to victory, but Zhang was able to send Kabayel to the floor. Under pressure, Zhang threw a left hook that hit Kabayel and knocked him down, but Kabayel recovered quickly and knocked out the Chinese fighter. Although Zhang showed his qualities, it was clear that he needed more to win.
"We do this every training session, first we hit the body, then the head. My coach told me after the fifth round that he was out of power and that I would break him. And so it was, I broke him. Zhang hits very hard, but he knocked me down with a punch that I didn't see. That was the main problem," he told Seconds Out.
"He hit me, I fell, but I got up right away. That punch wasn't that hard. My head was spinning, I wanted to continue the fight as soon as I got up. But my coach told me to wait, and when I waited, I knocked him out," he added.
Agit's future
Kabayel has been steadily becoming one of the best heavyweights, and he's been knocking down bigger names in every fight. If he keeps up this pace, he could be in the title fight very soon. Now the question is what's the next obstacle for him, and many options are being considered. On the other hand, Zhang can be happy with the career he's built, and this defeat won't be a big blow for him.
English (US)