Agit Kabayel Set To Face Nelson Hysa In Düsseldorf On November 28

Agit Kabayel is reportedly set to make the first defence of his WBC heavyweight title against Nelson Hysa on November 28 at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Düsseldorf, Germany.

The unbeaten heavyweights are expected to headline a DAZN event after negotiations resumed following a public disagreement over the status of the fight. A press conference is planned to formally announce the contest.

Kabayel (27-0, 19 KOs) was elevated from interim to full WBC champion in June after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the belt. He had won the interim title by stopping Zhilei Zhang in the sixth round in February 2025, adding to stoppage victories over Frank Sanchez and Arslanbek Makhmudov.

The German then halted Damian Knyba inside three rounds on his return home in January. That fight sold out the 12,000-capacity Rudolf Weber-Arena within days, encouraging co-promoters Queensberry and Goldstar to pursue a larger venue for his first defence as full champion.

The Merkur Spiel-Arena, home to Fortuna Düsseldorf, can accommodate more than 50,000 spectators. Its retractable roof and heating system also make it a practical option for a late-November event.

The stadium has previously staged three heavyweight title fights involving Wladimir Klitschko. The Ukrainian defeated Eddie Chambers and Jean-Marc Mormeck there before losing his world titles to Tyson Fury on November 28, 2015. Kabayel-Hysa would be held exactly 11 years after Fury’s victory.

Warren and Hysa offered different accounts

Hysa (25-0, 23 KOs) entered contention after stopping Thomas Narmo in the second round on the Moses Itauma-Filip Hrgovic undercard in August. The 42-year-old Albanian confronted Kabayel at ringside afterwards, and talks over a title fight followed.

Frank Warren subsequently said Hysa had visited the Queensberry offices and agreed terms, only to withdraw a few days later.

“[Hysa] came into the office, we agreed terms; contract and everything done; and he sent a message a couple of days later saying he didn’t want the fight,” Warren told IFL TV. “So we’re moving on. We’re announcing Agit’s fight next week. All I’m in is the Agit Kabayel business in Germany. He’s going to have a top 10 opponent, and he’ll defend his title. And he’s looking next year to unify.”

Warren added: “For somebody to turn down a world title fight is beyond me. Most fighters dream of fighting for the world title.”

Guido Vianello was approached as a possible replacement, but discussions with Hysa later reopened. Hysa disputed Warren’s version of events and posted on social media that he had signed his contract but was still waiting for Kabayel to do the same.

“Agit, I don’t want to play and I don’t want to waste time with you. You have started the training camp. Meanwhile, you left me without a response,” Hysa said. “The contract is in my hand. Since you wanted the facts, this is the contract signed by me. So sign the contract within 24 hours. If you don’t, I’ll make the contract public so everyone can see who hasn’t signed.”

The negotiations have since returned to the original match-up, which would give Hysa his first world-title opportunity. He has stopped 19 successive opponents and is ranked inside the WBA and WBO top 15, although he was not listed in the WBC rankings when talks began.

Kabayel would represent a substantial rise in opposition for Hysa, whose recent run has moved him into contention without facing an opponent of the champion’s standing. The challenger is also likely to draw support from Germany’s Albanian community, with the fight falling on Albanian Independence Day.

For Kabayel and his promoters, the event offers a chance to build on the demand shown for his win over Knyba and test his drawing power in a stadium setting. Warren has said the longer-term aim is a unification fight next year if Kabayel retains his title.