European heavyweight kingpin Agit Kabayel is coming to America.
Kabayel (19-0, 13 KOs) has signed a promotional contract with Top Rank, which will co-promote his bouts with SES Boxing. He is ranked No. 4 by the IBF and No. 9 by both the WBO and WBC.
Kabayel made three defenses of the European heavyweight title before vacating the crown to pursue opportunities stateside. He will make his Top Rank debut on an ESPN platform in either late 2019 or early 2020.
“My American Dream has come true,” Kabayel said. “I can’t wait to showcase my skills in the U.S. and on ESPN. As the European champion, the time is now to go all in and achieve my lifetime goal of becoming the first German world heavyweight champion since the great Max Schmeling.”
“We are delighted to join forces with Bob Arum and Top Rank to present Agit Kabayel on ESPN, the biggest sports platform in the world,” said SES Boxing President Benedikt Poelchau.
“Agit is ready for the world’s best heavyweights, and at only 26 years of age, the best is yet to come. Like all great fighters, Agit wants to make his mark in America,” said Ulf Steinforth, founder of SES Boxing.
Kabayel, who was born in Germany to Kurdish parents, has fought 14 of his 19 pro bouts in his home country. An eight-year pro, Kabayel won the vacant European crown in February 2017 with a 12-round unanimous decision over Herve Hubeaux. Nine months later, he scored his most high-profile victory, a majority decision over perennial contender Derek Chisora. A seasoned veteran who has sparred lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and former unified champion Anthony Joshua, Kabayel opened his 2019 campaign March 2 with an impressive unanimous decision over Andriy Rudenko in Magdeburg, Germany.
SAMOAN CRUSHER PATRICK ‘THE MAGIC SHOW’ MAILATA TO MAKE AMERICAN FIGHTING DEBUT THIS THURSDAY IN LAS VEGAS
The newest Samoan powerhouse on the heavyweight boxing scene, cement-fisted 6’ 5” slugger Patrick “The Magic Show” Mailata, will make his American fighting debut in just his second professional fight, this Thursday, September 5, 2019.
Mailata (1-0, 1 KO) will face Mexico’s Daniel Franco (2-1, 2 KOs) as part of the Final Fight Championship 40: Egli vs. Lemminger mixed combat-sport event being held at the Fight Dome located inside of Rio Las Vegas.
From a boxing family, Mailata was born in Apia, Samoa, but moved to New Zealand as a youngster. The 24-year-old turned to boxing in 2010 after an injury prematurely ended a promising rugby career.
After just two years of amateur boxing, Mailata lost a close decision to former WBO Heavyweight Champion Joseph Parker in the New Zealand National Olympic Trials. Among many other distinctions, he went on to become a three-time New Zealand national elite champion from 2012 to 2014 and a Commonwealth Games bronze medalist.
Mailata signed a promotional agreement with Vegas-based Epic Sports and Entertainment in June 2019 and has been training there for the last three months.
“Where I come from, this is the heart of boxing,” said Mailata of his American debut. “Everyone around the world wants to make it here in Vegas. For me to be fighting here in my second fight is an amazing feeling. I look forward to having bigger and bigger fights here in Vegas.”
In many ways, Mailata is not your typical heavyweight. In addition to his powerful punches, Mailata can also move with surprising agility.
“My team and I are working on harnessing my skills here in Vegas. I’m very entertaining in the ring and I can do things that seem impossible for someone my size. That’s why they call me ‘Magic Show.’”
“We’re excited to have signed Patrick Mailata to our Epic stable,” said Ivaylo Gotzev of Epic Sports and Entertainment. “He’s the one to watch of the new crop of heavyweight prospects. He’s a combination of Samoan strength and power with unbelievable natural athletic ability. He possesses the special talent that will take him to the top.”