The 33-year-old Kabayel is widely regarded as deserving of a shot at world champion Oleksandr Usyk after posting impressive inside-schedule victories over Arslanbek Makhmudov, Frank Sanchez and Zhilei Zhang in consecutive bouts. His contest against Knyba, who was among Zhang’s sparring partners when he prepared for Kabayel in February, will be his first in Germany since 2023.