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Kabayel vs Yoka will take place on January 10 in Germany for the interim WBC title

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Image: Agit Kabayel vs Tony Yoka Set for January 10 in Oberhausen—WBC Interim Heavyweight Title Fight Nears Official Confirmation

Tony Yoka posted a video of him signing a contract to fight WBC interim heavyweight champion Agit Kabayel on January 10, 2026 in Oberhausen, Germany. However, promoters Queensberry and Goldstar are yet to make an official announcement about the fight.

Yoki’s last chance to prove himself

2016 Olympic gold medalist Yoka (14-3, 11 KO) has won his last three fights against low-level opponents after he lost three fights in a row in 2022-2023.

Kabayel (26-0, 18 KO) has looked impressive in his recent outings, defeating highly rated fighters:

  • Zhilei Zhang (February 22, 2025) by KO in the 6th round
  • Frank Sanchez (May 18, 2024) by KO in the 7th round
  • Arslanbek Makhmudov (December 23, 2023) by 4th round by TKO

While defending his WBC interim title, Kabayela will return home to the Rudolf Weber-Arena in Oberhausen, Germany on January 10, 2026. In his three previous fights, Agita fought in Riyad, Saudi Arabia.

Olympic gold, professional disappointment

The 33-year-old Yoka is not an ideal opponent for Kabayel, because the French fighter does not hold a high position in the rankings and is considered by many boxing fans to be an example of an Olympic gold medalist who failed in the professional ranks.

The 6-foot-7 Yoka has been a professional for eight years, starting in 2017, but has failed to achieve the success he achieved at the 2016 Olympics. As an amateur, Yoka’s record is 56-27-1 with 8 knockouts. Therefore, he was not one of the great amateurs with substantial blue chips who could boast of impeccable achievements in turning professional.

The Dubois fight is still on the table

Last Saturday night, Kabayel (26-0, 18 KO) expressed interest in fighting former IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois. This would be an effortless fight for Queensberry as they promote both fighters.

If the idea is to rebuild Dubois (22-3, 21 KO) after his recent fifth-round knockout defeat to WBA, WBC and WBO champion Oleksandr Usyk on July 19, 2025, pairing him with Kabayel would be a risky move. He could destroy the 28-year-old Dubois’ confidence by knocking him out, as he did recently against Sanchez, Zhang and Makhmudov.

Last update: 27/10/2025

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Boxing

Gilberto Ramirez leaves with two fights left

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Image: Gilberto Ramirez Eyes Exit With Only Two Fights Left

“I think one or two more fights,” Ramirez told Fight Hub TV when asked about his long-term plans. “I have been practicing this sport for a long time.”

Ramirez, 33, said that while he still wants to continue his career for now, he is already thinking about how his career will end, not how long it can be extended. Ramirez said he has achieved key goals in the sport, including becoming world champion in two divisions, but still wants to perform at the highest level before he retires.

That pursuit begins with Benavidez, a fight that Ramirez believes will define his status and push his name further to the top of the sport.

“I will beat him. That’s my plan, to fight Opetaia,” said Gilberto about his desire to fight former IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia.

It’s a shoot-for-the-stars plan for Ramirez, but you can’t blame him for wanting to fight Opetaia. The biggest obstacle is not only the fight itself, but also where Jai Opetaia currently sits. Jai is now the face of Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing.

At the same time, Ramirez hinted at one last twist before his retirement. When asked about moving up again, he left the door open to a possible heavyweight fight, even admitting that he may not be the biggest fighter in the division.

“Why not?” Ramirez talked about moving up to heavyweight. “That would be amazing.”

If Zurdo loses to Benavidez, his plan for Opetaia will likely evaporate and he may just go straight to the heavyweight event for one last payday before he suspends them.

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Eddie Hearn expects Mayweather vs Pacquiao 2 fight to be canceled and replaced with world title fight

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Eddie Hearn expects Mayweather vs Pacquiao 2 to be cancelled and replaced by world title fight

The final decision may come after the Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao rematch drama ends.

Earlier this year, it was announced that Mayweather and Pacquiao were set to fight professionally more than 10 years after their first meeting, with the event streaming live on Netflix and taking place on September 19 at The Sphere in Las Vegas.

In recent weeks the duel was in doubt, after Mayweather stated that the fight would instead be an exhibition, while Pacquiao continues to insist that it must be a fully sanctioned fight.

Since it is currently unknown whether this will actually come to fruition, this has probably given the clearest signal that this will no longer happen.

Conversation with FightHypepromoter Eddie Hearn said he thinks Netflix can now focus on the WBC welterweight title fight between Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn, essentially replacing the Mayweather-Pacquiao event.

“It’s all a mess. I’m surprised Netflix got into this whole circus… Netflix is ​​modern to boxing, but they need to be a little more solid in the routine because you can’t actually call the fight and it just falls by the wayside and it just doesn’t look great.”

“NO [I don’t believe it will happen]not now. Netflix is ​​only going to do so many fights and the Benn-Garcia fight is now said to be on September 12 or whenever that happens, so obviously this is the fight to replace Mayweather-Pacquiao.

“If it happened Mayweather-Pacquiao, they are committed to that fight, but if it doesn’t happen they will want another fight and from the sound of it it will be Garcia vs. Benn.”

The world title fight between Garcia and Benn has been widely discussed this month, and if Hearn is right, it could spell the end of any hopes of Mayweather and Pacquiao fighting again.

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Junto Nakatani Banking size vs. Naoya Inoue

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Image: Junto Nakatani Banking On Size, Youth Against Naoya Inoue

“I think my size and youth should be a gigantic advantage. It gives me an even better chance to win,” Nakatani told The Ring.

Inoue’s reluctance to make the jump to 126 pounds at featherweight may be the most truthful admission of his physical limitations.

Inoue has fought fighters who hydrated to be hefty, but Nakatani is elevated. At 5’7″ or 5’8″, he has the skeletal leverage of a natural featherweight or super featherweight.

Most of Inoue’s opponents end up with confined time as they have to rush to hit him. Nakatani can theoretically sit outside and throw a punch without putting his chin in the red zone.

The numbers support this belief on paper. Nakatani will enter with a three-inch height advantage, a slight reach advantage and a five-year age difference. He also has natural size from climbing three weight classes, which he plans to exploit for the full distance rather than chasing an early finish.

“This fight will 100% be a war and I think I will win by decision once I overcome everything Inoue throws at me,” Nakatani said.

In his December victory over Sebastian Hernandez, Nakatani was forced into a fierce fight in which both men landed heavily, taking 273 punches in a back-and-forth fight that went the distance. He showed toughness, but also suggested he could get hit when exchanges open up.

It’s not that Inoue is afraid of fighting a bigger opponent, but more that he is a perfectionist who knows that when you lose your physical advantage, you have to rely completely on your endurance. Nakatani is the first fighter in a long time who can actually make Inoue look petite in the ring.

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