The topic involves a name change. - Boxing champion Kabayel prefers not to be referred to as Felix Sturm.
Agit Kabayel, a 31-year-old boxer from Bochum, is Germany's top hope in the heavyweight division. On Saturday, he'll go head-to-head with Frank Sanchez in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. If Kabayel emerges victorious, he'll be in the running to compete for the World Boxing Council (WBC) championship. Germany hasn't had a boxer this close to a world title shot since Axel Schulz in 1996.
Sadly, there's not as much excitement in Germany for boxing as there was during the height of Schulz's career, which was also shared by the legendary Henry Maske and Sven Ottke. The 90's boxing craze is a distant memory, and according to Kabayel, support for German boxers isn't what it used to be. He said, "The support from Germany could be even bigger."
After his impressive win over destructive rival Arslanbek Makhmudov in December 2023, Kabayel expected more opportunities to come his way. He lamented, "I would have thought that more doors would open in terms of sponsors."
Despite this, Kabayel is adamant about not changing his name for marketing purposes. He's proud of his Kurdish heritage and his German background, and hopes that one day, people will accept him as a German boxer with a migrant background. He stated, "If Germany accepts at some point that an Agit Kabayel can also be German, then we can set great milestones."
In the past, many German boxers with migrant roots have changed their names to appear more marketable. One example is Felix Sturm (Adnan Catic). Universum manager Peter Hanraths suggested the name change in 2000, citing "better marketing" and "identification with the fans." Other fighters who've changed their names include Arthur Abraham (Awetik Abrahamjan) and Marco Huck (Muamer Hukić).
Kabayel responded to the question of a possible name change, saying, "You should start and accept that an Agit Kabayel can also box for Germany. At the end of the day, what good does it do you if someone changes their name but has nothing to do with Germany? I can show the perspective of a person with a migrant background from my point of view and talk about it. For me, Germany is home."
Interestingly, the Klitschko brothers, Wladimir and Vitali, also received German names when they started their professional careers. Initially, they were Walter and Willi Klitschmann. But they didn't want to deny their origins, so the change never stuck.
Kabayel is following in the footsteps of the Klitschkos, refusing to alter his name to appeal to a different audience.
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Source: symclub.org
