Agit Kabayel vs Tom Schwarz ordered, but won't happen
The European heavyweight championship fight between Fides Sports athlete Tom Schwarz and Agit Kabayel ordered by the EBU does not take place.
As the EBU announced to Fides Sports and promoter Burim Sylejmani today, on the day of the auction of the hosting rights, Kabayel has voluntarily given back his European title.
Since Tom Schwarz has been named mandatory challenger for the European heavyweight crown, he will remain in that position. The “European Boxing Union” (EBU) will now determine a suitable opponent for the heavyweight from Magdeburg and will announce this as soon as possible.
The prestigious blue European Championship belt has already been worn by numerous well-known heavyweights. In addition to the famous Klitschko brothers, the reigning WBC world champion and former opponent of Tom Schwarz Tyson Fury, the last undisputed heavyweight world champion Lennox Lewis and Luan Krasniqi were also European champions. But German boxing greats such as Max Schmeling, Karl Mildenberger and Jürgen Blin also once wore the belt.
It is therefore clear to Schwarz that he definitely wants to take advantage of his chance to become European champion. He has very respectful words for his former stablemate: “I really want to fight for the European Championship belt and I will take advantage of my chance. I would have been very happy about a duel against Agit, but I understand his decision. He now has the chance to box up there – I would have done the same thing! Agit is a great and very fair sportsman and has his heart in the right place. His coach Sükrü Aksu has always been very respectful to me and my team and I wish them only the best because they deserve it.”
Promoter Burim Sylejmani stated, “I would have been very happy about this duel because it would have been a big fight for German boxing. We concentrate on the new tasks. Tom is in a great mood, he has matured and his chance will definitely come this year. Let's see who will be the new opponent for the big European title. Where one door closes, a new one opens.
“Besides the EBU order, we negotiated another fight. We were close to agreeing a deal with Britain's Joe Joyce for a fight in London in February. First we were given the promise verbally and then the English canceled it when the contract was about to be signed. But unfortunately that's how it is sometimes in boxing. In any case, we now have our sights firmly set on the European Championships!” Sylejmani explained further.