Kabayel Urges Itauma to Face Knyba in Comeback Bout

Photo Credit: DAZN / Punchng.com
Kabayel Urges Itauma to Face Knyba in Comeback Bout
WBC heavyweight champion Agit Kabayel has suggested that British-Nigerian prospect Moses Itauma should take on Damian Knyba as he looks to bounce back from his first career defeat.

Kabayel, who was earlier linked with a potential unification clash against Itauma, believes the fight against Knyba would be the ideal starting point for the 21-year-old’s rebuilding process.

Itauma suffered a shock ninth-round stoppage loss to Filip Hrgovic in their world title fight last month. The Kent-based boxer had dominated most of the contest at the O2 Arena, even dropping Hrgovic in the second round and leading comfortably on all three judges’ scorecards after eight rounds, before the fight turned dramatically.

He was eventually taken out of the ring on a stretcher and required oxygen.

With attention now shifting to his return, Kabayel has tipped Knyba as a suitable opponent. The Polish heavyweight holds an 18-1 record with 11 knockouts, with his only loss coming against Kabayel himself via a third-round stoppage in January for the interim WBC title.

Kabayel was later elevated to full WBC champion after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the WBC, WBA and IBF belts in June.

Knyba has since bounced back, securing a points victory over former unified world champion Andy Ruiz Jr earlier this month in New Jersey. Ruiz Jr, famous for his upset win over Anthony Joshua in June 2019, was left with a black eye after the gruelling 12-round contest.

Source: Punch Newspapers –