Agit Kabayel stopped the previously undefeated Arslanbek Makhmudov in four rounds in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to record one of the finest victories of his career.
Russia's Makhmudov started as the aggressor. From the centre of the ring he landed two left hooks that Kabayel absorbed. He then continued to press the action for much of the remainder of the round, but he was predictable in loading up with his right hand.
That predictability meant that Kabayel, of Germany, started to read and punish him from the second. A right to the body halted the rangier Makhmudov towards its conclusion.
In the third Kabayel started to take control. After succeeding with two precise uppercuts he landed successive right hands that hurt the dangerous Russian, and to the extent Kabayel started making an impression with almost everything he threw.
A strong right to the body sent Makhmudov to the canvas in the fourth round. He returned to his feet on the count of eight, after which Kabayel pounced on him to land further hurtful body punches.
Makhmudov was knocked down again by some accurate combination punching. He again returned to his feet, but a further body shot forced a further knockdown and, ultimately, the referee Steve Gray to intervene to rescue him after two minutes and three seconds.
“I give it my best and win the fight,” Kabayel said to DAZN, post-fight. “We’ve been training hard for this. I've shocked the world, maybe?
"When you are with 10 guys, nine guys say Agit will never win. Today, Alhamdulillah, we win. My movement was part of the game plan, the body shots, they see the Leiber King.”
