One of the biggest shocks of this year has ironically transpired outside of the boxing ring as German heavyweight contender Agit Kabayel reportedly pulls out of a IBF-ordered match against Congolese contender Martin Bakole. Aside from Kabayel’s decision being a blatant “duck”, it also verifies Bakole as one of the most feared heavyweights while simultaneously drawing questions as to Kabayel’s own ambition to compete at the top of the division.
Unlike Martin Bakole (21-1, 16 KO’s). Agit Kabayel (25-0, 17 KO’s) is still undefeated but appears to have weighed in the risks of fighting the Congolese heavyweight (200+ lbs) after reports emerged of the German fighter pulling out of the IBF’s mandated bout.
“NEWS: Per IBF, both purse bids today were canceled,” Dan Rafael stated on Twitter/X, referring to the Bakole-Kabayel clash and Anthony Cacace vs. Eduardo Nunez fight [which was also ordered by the IBF]. “[The] Heavyweight eliminator between Kabayel and Bakole [was cancelled] because Kabayel “is pursuing a different direction” and 130 [lbs] title bout between Cacace and Nunez because they reached an agreement.“
Perhaps the most surprising part of Rafael’s report is the fact that Bakole, a Boxxer fighter, did not withdraw from the fight despite Boxxer’s well-recorded history of its fighters pulling out of purse bids at the last moment. The Bakole-Kabayel purse bids had been scheduled by the IBF for Thursday, November 15.
No reason or motive has been given for Kabayel’s withdrawal but the most obvious conclusion points towards Bakole being regarded as too dangerous of an opponent. Martin Bakole notably upset the boxing world with a dominant stoppage victory over American heavyweight prospect/contender Jared Anderson (17-1, 15 KO’s) this past August, and it appears this performance has given the likes of Kabayel cold feet.
Agit Kabayel and Martin Bakole are respectively ranked at #3 and #4 [the #1 and #2 positions are currently vacant] on the IBF’s heavyweight rankings, and with Kabayel’s withdrawal #5-ranked Chinese heavyweight Zhilei Zhang (27-2-1, 22 KO’s) has now emerged as a possible candidate for Bakole to face, depending on what the IBF opts to do next.
