Riyadh Season has given boxing fans the type of fights they spent years crying out for.

It has also given some fighters the chance to reintroduce themselves to the boxing public and handed others the opportunity to reinvent themselves.

Lots of fighters are worn down by the heavy media demands of a Saudi Arabian fight week and resort to giving stock answers to stock questions but China’s Zhilei Zhang, 27-2-1 (22 KOs), has flourished. The 41 year-old ‘Big Bang’ has become the king of the catchphrase but as good natured as he has been outside of the ring, he has been just as dangerous inside it.

Last March, Zhang lost a majority decision to Joseph Parker despite dropping the New Zealander twice. In June he stopped Deontay Wilder in five rounds.

Agit Kabayel, 25-0 (17 KOs), has more than earned a reputation as a giant killer. When the world’s top heavyweight began to assemble in Saudi Arabia, two-time European champion, Kabayel, was overlooked but the German has been a real surprise package.

In December 2023, he put the division on notice by stopping the fearsome Arslanbek Makhmudov and followed that up by knocking out the division’s bogeyman, Frank Sanchez, last May.

In today’s era of heavy handed super heavyweights, Kabayel has proven to be smart, agile and adept at following a game plan. The 32 year-old is easy to root for.

The WBC interim title will be at stake when the pair meet in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday night. DAZN will broadcast the entire, stacked ‘The Last Crescendo’ card worldwide.

In Zhang, Kabayel faces another member of the heavyweight division’s ‘Who Needs Him Club’.

Despite giving away height and weight this weekend, he actually starts as a favourite this weekend but enjoys being an outsider and has adopted that same approach for the fight with Zhang.

“Yes, of course. I like it,” he said. “You’ll see on Saturday, the underdog shocks the world again.

“I'm happy that I'm here. I’m ready for the next challenge. Let's go. We have a good game plan for him. On Saturday we'll see.

“It's a small title - a small world title - but after the small world title, maybe comes the big world title.”

Zhang has been within touching distance of a world title shot before. Back in 2023, he beat Joe Joyce to win the WBO interim title. He now gets the opportunity to claim the WBC version.

Parker set out with the intention of using his movement to prevent Zhang from setting his feet and unloading his heavy hands. Tasting the Chinese fighter’s power and taking a count in the third round solidified those tactics. Zhang caught up with Parker again in the eighth round but couldn’t find a finish and lost a decision.

Zhang rebounded well to dominate Wilder but Kabayel will be much harder to pin down than the faded Bronze Bomber and Zhang - at 41 years old - may well have a difficult task in tracking him down.

Nonetheless, beating Wilder rebuilt Zhang's confidence and he is sure of beating Kabayel.

“It meant a lot,” he said of the Wilder win. “After the Joseph Parker loss, it means that I'm coming back. ‘Big Bang' is here.

“Whatever he brings to the table, I have an answer for him. I don't know how far I can go, but as of right now, I'm feeling great. I'm feeling very young.”