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German boxer Agit Kabayel is seen in action during the WBC heavyweight bout against Poland's Kacper Knyba at the Koenig-Pilsener-Arena. Bernd Thissen/dpa
German boxer Agit Kabayel has said he deserves a heavyweight world championship fight against "the best boxer in world" Alexander Usyk.
Kabayel knocked out Poland's Damian Knyba in the third round on Saturday night to retain his title as interim WBC world champion, and he and his management have set their sights on a duel with Ukrainian great Usyk towards the end of the year.
"Do I deserve the fight? I believe I deserve this fight. Yes, I am ready. He is unbeaten, I am unbeaten. Why not? Let's go," Kabayel said.
Kabayel, 33, got his 27th victory on Saturday and wants to become only the second German boxer to claim the heavyweight world title, more than 95 years after Max Schmeling.
The fighter has created a new boxing hype in the country and the attendance of 13,000 was the biggest in Germany since the estimated 50,000 that came to watch Tyson Fury beat Wladimir Klitschko more than 10 years ago.
"I don't know whether I have changed the sport of boxing. I believe I have just revived it," said Kabayel who has Kurdish roots.
Kabayel said a potential fight against Usyk could take place in Germany, saying that the country not only has many people of Kurdish descent but also from Ukraine.
His British manager, Spencer Brown, told dpa there was a chance that such a fight could be staged in Germany.
"If it is Usyk we will need a big stadium, best with 75,000 spectators," he said, naming the arenas in Gelsenkirchen and Dusseldorf as possible venues.
""If the atmosphere is like it was here then it could be one of the best spectator experiences ever," Brown said.
Usyk appears ready to voluntarily defend his WBC title against American Deontay Wilder in spring, and Kabayel may also have another bout in summer.
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