Zhilei Zhang versus Agit Kabayel is one of the many intriguing fights coming up on a huge card in February out in Saudi Arabia.
Zhang is a late bloomer who shot to the top of the division with back-to-back KO wins over Joe Joyce and then a stoppage of Deontay Wilder earlier this year, though he has lost to Joseph Parker in that time.
Kabayel is an equally well-respected and still unbeaten heavyweight who stopped Frank Sanchez and Arslanbek Makhmudov in his last two fights.
Speaking on his own Froch on Fighting, former world champion ‘The Cobra’ first spoke of Zhang’s recent form.
“I think Zhang, at almost 42 when he steps through the ropes, he has a couple of good wins on his record. He beat Joe Joyce twice, he also beat Wilder, a good win, I know Wilder is past his best but he flattened him with that right hand.”
Froch then spoke up Kabayel’s chances and sided with the German to come out on top.
“Kabayel is 32, he’s young, fresher, a lot of people say he’s avoided and nobody really wants to give him a chance. If he takes him past round five, into six onwards, those old legs, somebody like Kabayel who can punch hard and means business and he’s only in his early 30s, I think the writing’s really on the wall [for Zhang.]”
