Undefeated Kurdish boxing champion Agit Kabayel will return to Germany on January 10 to face undefeated Polish professional boxer Damian Knyba for the WBC Interim Heavyweight Title in Oberhausen. “I’m standing for Germany, for Kurdistan, for everyone who has supported me. That’s what makes this moment so emotional and so significant,” Kabayel told Kurdistan Chronicle.

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Kabayel – nicknamed the “Liver King” for securing several knockouts with devastating bodyshots – has had an impressive international boxing career with 26 wins and 18 knockouts, holding the interim heavyweight title under the World Boxing Council and winning several regional heavyweight titles, including the European Championship twice between 2017 and 2024. For this match, he will return home to Germany, where he was born.

“For me, this fight truly is a homecoming – in front of my German fans, in the Ruhr area, where I grew up. At the same time, I carry the Kurdish people in my heart: I’m fighting for my roots, too, for all Kurds worldwide who support me, especially the ones in Germany,” Kabayel added.

“Boxing in Germany needs passion, clarity, and young fighters who receive consistent support. If we rebuild major events here, if we have athletes like me who compete internationally while remaining rooted, then German boxing will be great again. And I want to contribute to keeping that legacy alive, for Germany and for all Kurds who are proud.”

This time, Kabayel will face Knyba, who holds a perfect record of 17 wins, including 11 by knockout.

“Against an undefeated opponent, you have to be perfectly prepared – physically, technically, and mentally. I prepare intensely: hard sessions, focus on technique, stamina, and mind,” Kabayel said. “And I think about what I represent – the two nations I mentioned, my family, my team. When I step into that ring, I feel a responsibility – not just for myself, but for everyone who believes in me. That makes me stronger.”

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Kabayel is sponsored by Visit Kurdistan, Kurdistan’s tourism and heritage promotion company, and visited the Kurdistan Region last April.

“It means an incredible amount to me to represent my people. I am proud to be a Kurd – proud of my heritage and of the Kurdish people who have supported me from the very beginning. When I step into the ring, I carry Kurdistan in my heart – for me, this is more than just a sponsorship or a name on my shorts.

“I want to especially thank Visit Kurdistan for being part of this movement and my story. They stand behind me and my vision to proudly bring our country onto the world’s biggest stages. God willing, I will represent Kurdistan honorably there,” he said.

“I want to show that origin is not a limitation – it is strength. And I want Kurds everywhere to see: Yes, we are here, we are strong, and we belong on the world stage.”