Every fight represents something different to Agit Kabayel than is the case for most other heavyweights.

It has been decades since a Germany-born boxer has enjoyed a significant presence in the heavyweight division. Kabayel (25-0, 17 KOs) isn’t at the pinnacle yet, though it’s a big reason why he was quick to join the Riyadh Season circuit—the one place where he can land the big fights he’s always sought.

“This means a lot to be where I’m at in my career,” Kabayel told the Ring. “There hasn’t been a top German heavyweight in a long time. I feel like all this is an acknowledgement of my hard work by His Excellency [Turki Alalshikh] and Riyadh Season.

‘Before, I was getting the wins but not the recognition. I knew when I first fought in Riyadh Season, I had to rise to the occasion.”

Two stoppage wins later, Kabayel is now poised to land directly in title contention.

The Ring’s No. 5 heavyweight contender is set to face Zhilei Zhang (27-2-1, 22 KOs)—No. 4 among The Ring’s top ten—for the interim WBC title. Their scheduled twelve-round bout takes place on the loaded Feb. 22 Riyadh Season show at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

It is far from guaranteed that the Zhang-Kabayel winner will land a straightaway shot at The Ring and unified heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk (23-0, 14KOs). However, the winner will undoubtedly secure another lucrative opportunity against a top heavyweight.

That has been the case thus far for Kabayel, who broke through with a fourth-round knockout of Arslanbek Mukhmadov in their Dec. 2023 battle of unbeaten heavyweights.

The fight came on a Riyadh Season card that featured two other significant heavyweight fights. Included among them was the continued resurrection of Joseph Parker (35-3, 23 KOs), The Ring’s No. 3 heavyweight and Kabayel’s stablemate as both are aligned with Spencer Brown’s Gold Star Promotions.

Parker challenges IBF heavyweight titlist Daniel Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs) in the Feb. 22 co-feature.

Kabayel earned his way to the interim title after a seventh-round stoppage of Frank Sanchez. Both fighters were 24-0 with 16 knockouts at the time of their May 18 WBC title eliminator on the undercard of Usyk’s first win over Tyson Fury (34-2-1, 24 KOs) to fully unify the heavyweight crown.

“Nothing really changed with that win. It was an important victory but really just another fight where I was the underdog,” insisted Kabayel. “I am used to that.

“For me, it was another step, though a very important one. If anything, that fight was my opportunity to prove that I am the next heavyweight superstar.”