Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Agit Kabayel continued his remarkable hot streak with a career-best performance, stopping Zhilei Zhang in the sixth round to claim the WBC Interim Heavyweight Title. The undefeated German entered the fight as the underdog for the third straight time but once again defied expectations with a relentless, high-volume attack that overwhelmed Zhang.

Kabayel set the tone early, coming forward behind a steady stream of combinations to the head and body. Zhang had his moments, landing heavy single shots, including a crisp two-piece in the opening seconds, but struggled to keep Kabayel off him. Kabayel absorbed Zhang’s fire and continued pressing forward, dictating the pace of the fight.

Zhang found some early success with his straight left hands, especially against the ropes, but Kabayel’s movement and work rate kept him in control. The Chinese powerhouse, known for his devastating power, was unable to establish a rhythm as Kabayel peppered him with body shots and forced him into a defensive posture.

By the third and fourth rounds, Kabayel’s body attack had taken a visible toll. Zhang’s midsection was reddening, and his work rate had slowed significantly. While he still landed occasional combinations, Kabayel’s relentless pressure never wavered. The undefeated German walked Zhang down, absorbing his best shots while delivering a steady diet of punishing blows to the body and head.

Just when it seemed like Kabayel was running away with the fight, Zhang reminded everyone why he’s one of the most dangerous punchers in the division. Early in the fifth round, a crushing left cross sent Kabayel to the canvas, momentarily flipping the momentum. Kabayel, however, showed championship-level composure, rising to his feet and quickly regaining his offensive flow. Zhang, despite his power, was unable to sustain the momentum, and the effects of his earlier fatigue quickly resurfaced.

Kabayel stormed into the sixth round with renewed energy, firing combinations with the same intensity he had from the opening bell. A powerful left hook to the body visibly froze Zhang, though the referee momentarily halted the action, possibly thinking the shot was low. Once action resumed, Kabayel continued his assault, pinning Zhang in the corner and landing a thunderous overhand right. As Zhang struggled to hold on, Kabayel delivered two more devastating body shots, sending Zhang to his knees. The Chinese heavyweight made no attempt to beat the count, bringing an emphatic end to the contest.

With the win, Kabayel not only secures the WBC Interim Heavyweight Title but also cements his place as a major player at the top of the division. This victory over Zhang is his biggest to date, adding to a recent streak of upsets that has seen him defy the odds time and time again.

For Zhang, it’s a devastating setback. After back-to-back knockouts over Joe Joyce, a loss to Joseph Parker and a knockout of Deontay Wilder, he entered this fight with momentum, but Kabayel’s pressure and durability proved too much. The loss raises questions about his ability to deal with relentless, high-volume fighters, especially as he ages.

With his unbeaten record intact and a title belt in hand, Kabayel is now in a prime position for a shot at the heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk. The German heavyweight has firmly established himself as a legitimate threat to anyone at the top division. As for Zhang, he’ll need to regroup and assess his next move, but this loss is a tough pill to swallow.