Agit Kabayel’s record is impressive, featuring five consecutive knockouts over Sour, Smakici, Makhmudov, Sanchez, and Zhang. However, it might not be a simple walk in the park against Knyba. Due to his smaller stature, Agit is forced to fight as the aggressor: applying pressure, pushing forward, and dictating the tempo through aggression. Knyba is the largest of Kabayel’s recent opponents, standing taller even than Zhilei Zhang or Arslanbek Makhmudov. Yet, he doesn't like to stand directly in front of his opponent, as many big men do.

Damian moves constantly and works extensively with his lead hand. He can and loves to box heavily behind the jab and isn't afraid to outbox his opponent from a distance. He also possesses good enough footwork to avoid staying stationary for long. Therefore, Kabayel will have to work hard to get inside and reach the Pole. At the same time, Agit’s body work is impressive; it slows down opponents and drains their strength. A crucial factor will be whether Knyba can not only stop his opponent in time but also maneuver as much as necessary. The Pole’s fate, and possibly the result, will depend on this.

Kabayel is four years older at 33 and is undoubtedly more experienced. Compared to his resume, which includes names like Lazaridis, Rudenko, Chisora, and Johnson, it is difficult to find equivalent opponents in Knyba’s past. Damian has faced Dawejko, Wawrzyk, Dovbyshchenko, and several other tough opponents, but Kabayel is effectively his first true major test.

This is where Kabayel’s two greatest strengths—accuracy and the proper distribution of activity—are best displayed. Regarding the first, Agit is a fairly active boxer, but he doesn't throw significantly more than his opponent. However, the difference in accuracy is vast. Kabayel lands an average of 35% of his punches, compared to 14% for Knyba. A 35% accuracy rate is overall very impressive.

The accuracy of jabs is the closest metric, with the German leading 18% to 12%. But in power punches, there is total dominance: Agit lands an average of 49% of his power shots—nearly every second one. Knyba’s rate stands at 19%. Regarding the second point, Damian isn't shy about working the body and is a versatile boxer who doesn't just hunt for the head; he averages about 35 body shots per fight. But Kabayel significantly outweighs him here. Agit is one of the best, if not the best, body punchers in the category, averaging 214 body shots per fight.

Here, Knyba has the advantage. Kabayel fought only once recently: he was knocked down by Zhang but then defeated him by stoppage, becoming the first man to knock out the Chinese giant in professional boxing. Knyba, meanwhile, entered the ring twice. He forced his first opponent to retire after eight rounds and knocked out the second in the 7th.

Both are heavy hitters with high stoppage percentages, but they aren't traditional "one-punch" artists. Kabayel breaks down his opponents' bodies; he has found a winning path by wearing people out, but he isn't the type to drop an opponent with a single shot. Such wins require a lot of work. Knyba has heavy hands and has dropped opponents with single shots, but he isn't at the level of Wardley or Wilder, who decide everything with one hit. Damian doesn't fight solely for the knockout; he boxes and looks for openings. If they come, he knows how to take them, but fans don't necessarily expect every single landing to end the fight.

This remains to be tested, though previously, neither has shown major issues. Knyba has generally withstood whatever has landed on him. Kabayel went down from a shot by Zhang, but he got back up, and Zhang is known as one of the hardest hitters in the heavyweight division. Their head-to-head meeting will provide a clearer answer.

Kabayel is returning home. For the first time since 2023, Agit will box in front of a German crowd. Back then, he knocked out Smakici in three rounds before fighting three times in Saudi Arabia. Knyba will be boxing in Germany for the first time. While there is no doubt Polish fans will fill the arena, it's unlikely to drastically sway the result.

Knyba could surprise the world at the start of the year. Kabayel is rightfully among the leaders of the division, and everyone expects him to truly light it up at home, with most expecting a knockout. Damian is a rather awkward, non-standard big guy who won't be easy for anyone—including the German interim champion. At the same time, experience may prevail. Kabayel was the underdog in almost all his recent major fights, and many didn't believe in his ability to win by stoppage. Every time, he proved the skeptics wrong. Agit is determined not just to win; he needs this victory to challenge Oleksandr Usyk or to secure another high-profile fight for a great purse while the Ukrainian settles his own affairs. Stumbling at this stage is strictly prohibited for Kabayel.