Ten months after his last outing and five since he was elevated to full champion, Kabayel (27-0, 19 KOs) will make his maiden title defense against Nelson Hysa (25-0, 23 KOs).

Dusseldorf's Merkur Spiel-Arena will host the 34-year-old beltholder and tickets have sold quickly as the late-blooming heavyweight continues to prove an attractive draw in Germany.

On the 11-year anniversary of Tyson Fury's stunning points win over long-reigning champion Wladimir Klitschko, Kabayel gets an opportunity to headline a stadium show in his homeland.

Queensberry chief Frank Warren proudly said on the dais that 35,000 tickets had already been sold and the promotion has since added a bank of 5,000 for sale in anticipation of another "fabulous" atmosphere.

Supporters from their respective nations, coupled with some vociferous Kurdish fans, make for another rowdy night like his third-round stoppage win over Damian Knyba on January 10.

When asked about the occasion, Kabayel was grateful.

"It's an indescribable feeling because, back then I was young and watched Klitschko in the ring against Fury. If someone had asked back then, 'Will you be boxing in this stadium, or even selling it out?' I would never have believed it. Now here I am, it hasn't really sunk in yet, I think that will happen after we've secured the win."

"I believe the toughest opponent of my career is myself — I try to push and improve every time, to be better in every training session. I promise you, you're going to see a better version of me."

He made a point to stress he's not focused on Hysa, who irked him before their fight was made official with some overzealous trash talk. A brief fracas occurred during the Moses Itauma-Filip Hrgovic card on August 29, where the 42-year-old puncher scored a second-round stoppage of Thomas Narmo and made a beeline for the champion.

While armed with an impressive record, Hysa hasn't fought anyone of note. The flashy unbeaten records he'd seized were against overmatched opposition, so why him?

"Why not? He's one of the top guys," Hysa replied when asked about this step in class.

"I have 25 wins and no losses ... my matches were coming to an end, so I went to challenge the champion. I thank him for accepting, but I'm sorry, I'm coming to take the title and go back to my country. You [the media] don't know who I've fought, I've fought more good boxers than Agit in my career so yeah."

There was a possibility the fight wouldn't get made at all.

Warren stressed that they will 'make sure' title unifications await the winner in 2027, though the Hall of Fame promoter's nephew and manager Alfie believes the 42-year-old challenger can spring an upset.

"This is a fight Nelson always said would be massive in Germany down to the fan bases and two years later, Agit is world champion, making it even bigger. It's such a great night but Nelson's here to win."

"Nelson is definitely the better trash-talker, and on November 28, we'll see which of us is the better boxer," Kabayel added.

"We were in talks with a lot of people because no one in the top-10 is available right? Nelson put himself forward and I have to deliver. Don't come with excuses, that 'it wasn't right' or 'I got injured.' Be in the ring and be ready."