Daniel Dubois is wasting no time plotting his comeback route after falling short in his bid to regain the heavyweight crown, publicly calling out Agit Kabayel for a potential showdown.
The 28-year-old Londoner was stopped by Oleksandr Usyk in July at Wembley Stadium, ending his hopes of reclaiming the unified heavyweight championship. Despite entering as IBF champion after Usyk’s brief title vacation, Dubois once again found the Ukrainian a step too far. Still, with recent wins over Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic, and Anthony Joshua, his standing among the division’s top contenders remains intact.
Dubois was ringside at the O2 Arena on Saturday, watching Fabio Wardley stop Joseph Parker in the 11th round to claim the WBO interim title. With Wardley likely to challenge Usyk in 2026, Dubois has turned his attention toward Kabayel - the unbeaten German heavyweight currently holding the WBC interim belt.
Kabayel has enjoyed a breakout run with three consecutive Riyadh Season victories over Arslanbek Makhmudov, Frank Sanchez, and Zhilei Zhang. He’s set to headline in Germany for the first time in three years on January 10, 2026, at the Rudolf Weber-Arena in Oberhausen, in a Goldstar/Queensberry event. French Olympic gold medallist Tony Yoka has already announced signing to face him, though Kabayel himself seems open to a different matchup.
“I’m ready to go. I’ll take on Kabayel,” Dubois told DAZN. “I’m ready for him. I’m ready to get back to the top.” Kabayel quickly responded on Instagram: “Let’s go for the fight. I think this is the biggest fight for the boxing fans right now. Let’s do it for them. I’m ready for the next challenge.”
Image Credit: DAZN