RIYADH, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Germany's Agit Kabayel captured the WBC interim heavyweight title with a sixth-round TKO victory over China's Zhang Zhilei on Friday night, as part of the Riyadh Season boxing event themed "The Last Crescendo."
Zhang, 41, started cautiously in the opening round, testing his opponent with measured movements, while Kabayel, 32, set an aggressive tone, pressing forward with relentless combinations. The German fighter employed a high-paced strategy, frequently targeting Zhang's body to disrupt his rhythm.
By the second round, the effects of Kabayel's body shots were evident, with Zhang showing signs of discomfort as redness and swelling developed on his midsection. The Chinese boxer also sustained a facial cut, and by the third round, his breathing became noticeably labored.
Zhang found a moment of success in the fifth round when he landed a powerful left hook that sent Kabayel to the canvas. However, the German quickly recovered, and Zhang was unable to capitalize on the knockdown.
By the sixth round, Zhang's movement had slowed considerably, and he struggled to keep pace with Kabayel's relentless offense. Referee Mark Lyson intervened to stop the fight after Zhang took a knee, unable to continue.
Following the fight, Zhang addressed his supporters through a video on social media, expressing disappointment in the result but gratitude for the encouragement he received. Acknowledging the challenge of facing a younger opponent, he affirmed his commitment to continue his career and encouraged those facing adversity not to give up, urging them to remain confident in themselves and in life.
With this victory, Kabayel remains undefeated, improving his record to 26-0 (18 KOs), while Zhang's record falls to 27-3-1 (22 KOs). The result marks a significant step forward for Kabayel in the highly competitive heavyweight division, while Zhang will need to reassess his next move as he looks to bounce back from this defeat. ■