Kabayel Vs Zhang: Heavyweight Battle Set For February twenty second In Riyadh – Boxing News

Heavyweight contenders Agit Kabayel and Zhilei Zhang have been added to the February twenty second Riyadh Season card. Given the good fights on the cardboard, Kabayel vs. Zhang could possibly be one of many first contests proven.

Physique Photographs: The Key For Kabayel

Kabayel vs. Zhang may steal the present on the February twenty second card as a result of it will likely be an actual struggle. Each heavyweights wish to slug, and Kabayel will take the combat to ‘Big Bang,’ trying to put on him down along with his physique assault. Zhang has proven to be inclined to getting hit to the midsection, and Kabayel will look to reap the benefits of that weak point.

The previous WBO interim champion Zhilei Zhang (41, 27-2-1, 22 KOs) wants a victory to remain within the hunt for a world title shot towards unified champion Oleksandr Usyk.

Zhang, 41, seemed like a fighter in his 20s in his final contest, obliterating ‘The Bronze Bomber’ Deontay Wilder by a fifth-round knockout on June 1st. The 2-time Olympian Zhang should present the identical kind to be victorious towards Agit Kabayel (32, 25-0, 17 KOs).

Kabayel, 32, is significantly youthful than Zhang and has latest knockout victories over Frank Sanchez and Arslanbek Makhmudov. Few boxing followers had anticipated Kabayel to win both of these fights, as the primary 13 years of his professional profession have been nothing particular for the German fighter.

He’d crushed lower-level fighters and had struggled to defeat journeyman Derek Chisora in 2017, profitable a 12-round majority determination. Nevertheless, in Kabayel’s final two fights, he’s tailored his type, changing into a fierce physique puncher and a nightmare to deal with.

The way in which Kabayel seemed in his seventh-round stoppage win towards Frank Sanchez on Could 18th, he’d knock out Tyson Fury. His physique punching is out of this world, as we witnessed in Fury’s final combat towards Usyk; he doesn’t like getting hit to his overstuffed breadbasket full of goodies.

Kabayel vs. Sanchez Punch Stats

– Agit Kabayel: 64 of 577 punches for a 28% join price– Frank Sanchez: 81 of 318 punches for 25%

A lot of the punches Kabayel landed in the course of the combat have been to the physique, connecting on 51.

Kabayel is ranked #2 WBC, #3 IBF, #4 WBO, and #5 WBA. He’s near getting a world title shot. The one motive he’s not but gotten a shot is as a result of the champions preserve specializing in combating fashionable guys, and he’s not a family title with the casuals.

Zhang is ranked #2 WBO, #3 IBF, and #4 WBC. He’s nonetheless extremely ranked regardless of shedding to Joseph Parker by a 12-round majority determination earlier this yr on March eighth.

February twenty second Riyadh Card

Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol 2Daniel Dubois vs Joseph ParkerJaron Ennis vs Vergil Ortiz JrZhilei Zhang vs Agit KabayelHamzah Sheeraz vs Carlos Adames