The fighter from Bochum is the WBC interim champion and he wants to underline his status with a convincing victory against Damian Knyba on Saturday, live on DAZN.

The long-term goal is to become the undisputed world champion and emulate Max Schmeling as a German boxing legend.

However, it took several years for him to reach his current status. In his early days, Kabayel looked up with great reverence to the legends of boxing, and one person in particular left a lasting impression on the now 33-year-old.

That person is former world champion Lennox Lewis, who Kabayel greatly admires. The German was therefore delighted when he was able to meet the Brit in person a few years ago.

“For me, he was one of the best boxers of his era and an absolute legend. Getting to know him was simply indescribable,” Kabayel said in an interview with DAZN News.

He first met Lewis in 2014, “but he didn’t know who I was. Then we met again later - he was sitting next to me at the press conference before the fight against Zhang.

“I was a bit nervous but not because of the press conference, because he was sitting next to me.”

The two struck up a conversation, and Lewis praised Kabayel for his recent performances - something that deeply impressed the German.

He added: “He said something like, ‘outstanding performances in your last two fights’, and I just thought ‘wow’.

“I told him the story and he had to think back a little. And then when he came into the locker room before the fight against Zhilei Zhang and looked over my shoulder again and wished me all the best for the fight, that was an indescribable feeling.”

Watch Kabayel vs. Knyba with a DAZN subscription

January starts with a heavyweight bang as Agit Kabayel takes the next steps towards a world title shot as he face Damian Knyba on Saturday, January 10, exclusively on DAZN  Watch with a subscription, monthly and annual options available.

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