DUSSELDORF — WBC heavyweight champion Agit Kabayel is reportedly set for his first title defense at home, with multiple outlets reporting a meeting with undefeated Nelson Hysa on Nov. 28 at Dusseldorf's 50,000-capacity Merkur Spiel-Arena.
Hysa (25-0, 23 KO) turned pro in 2022 at the age of 37 and has spent his career fighting across Europe. The Queensberry fighter most recently stopped Thomas Narmo on last month's Itauma-Hrgovic show with a right cross. Hysa subsequently confronted Kabayel (27-0, 19 KO) afterward, though Frank Warren alleged "The Albanian Eagle" pulled out of the planned contest at the eleventh hour before ultimately accepting the title opportunity despite appearing nowhere in the WBC's rankings.
Kabayel has not fought since stopping Damian Knyba in January. The matchup is viewed as a keep-busy defense while Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley settle their differences next month, a bout that could pave the way for a heavyweight title unification involving Kabayel.
The Dusseldorf date will also test Kabayel's drawing power in Germany, which has hosted major heavyweight events but not at this scale since the Klitschkos retired. The Merkur Spiel-Arena provides a stadium platform for the champion's return to a German ring.