As part of the partnership, Champion becomes Kabayel’s exclusive sportswear and fashion partner. The brand will be featured prominently on his fight shorts and will design his walkout robe, fight-week looks and team apparel, as well as create a one-of-a-kind leather jacket for his arrival on fight night.
“I’m incredibly excited to partner with Champion and to have them by my side as I work towards cementing my position as the number one heavyweight in the world,” said Kabayel.
“This is a brand that I’ve loved since I was a child and the word ‘Champion’ represents what I work hard for every day. I’m particularly proud to represent a brand with such a strong legacy in sports and can’t wait to bring to life some of the projects we have planned.”
Kabayel enters the agreement with a perfect 26–0 professional record and as the reigning WBC Interim Heavyweight Champion. Born in Kurdistan and raised in Bochum, Germany, he has earned the nicknames “The Lumberjack” and “The Liver King,” underscoring his style built on breaking opponents down over time.
Kabayel joins Champion’s growing combat sports roster alongside athletes including Tom Aspinall, Katie Taylor and rising star Tiah May-Ayton. Additional athlete announcements are planned this year, further underscoring the brand’s long-term commitment to boxing and MMA across multiple markets.
“At Champion, we are building a carefully selected roster of athletes who genuinely reflect our values — family, resilience, and relentless hard work. Agit Kabayel embodies everything we stand for, both inside and outside the ring,” said Lorenzo Moretti, Champion EMEA President.
“His journey, mindset, and dedication to his craft make him a natural fit for us. This partnership is another important step in strengthening our presence in combat sports and reinforces our ambition to become the leading brand in this space, alongside athletes who truly represent what it means to be a Champion.”
The announcement comes ahead of Kabayel’s next fight on January 10 at the Rudolf Weber Arena in Oberhausen. The event sold out its 12,000-plus capacity in just two days, making it one of the largest boxing events Germany has hosted in recent years.
Thirty-seven days and counting: Elizabeth Scarlett, lifestyle and accessories brand has Valentine’s Day firmly in its sights, announcing a creative partnership with Dalloway Terrace, London’s dining destination at The Bloomsbury.
Elizabeth Scarlett
Bringing together two British brands “united by a shared love of beauty and storytelling”, the collaboration will see Dalloway Terrace transformed into an immersive space “celebrating love, nature and artistry”. It’s a trend we’re seeing more and more often with brands linking up with complementary destinations in a way that benefits both partners.
Inspired by Elizabeth Scarlett’s signature wildflower motifs – the terrace will feature a specially commissioned floral installation, “drawing guests into the brand’s romantic, nature-led world”.
At the heart of the partnership is a limited-edition Afternoon Tea, specially created to celebrate the partnership with a special menu (pastries and sweets inspired by the brand’s signature storytelling).
To mark the event, every guest who books a space on the day will receive a complimentary limited-edition Elizabeth Scarlett love heart stripe pouch (RRP £38), created for the collaboration. Some of the proceeds will also be donated to wildlife conservation.
Elizabeth Petrides, founder of Elizabeth Scarlett said: “We wanted to create a moment where guests can slow down, look closer, and feel immersed in the natural world – even in the heart of the city. From the wildflowers that surround you to the wildlife artwork at the core of our brand, it honours the magic that happens when artistry and nature meet.”
The CGT labour union at LVMH‘s champagne units called for new strike action next Thursday, as it seeks to pressure management to compensate workers for lost bonuses.
The LVMH business includes fashion and refreshments – DR
CGT labour representatives from the Moet&Chandon and Veuve Clicquot champagne houses said in a video addressed to workers on Friday that they should drop their tasks for “at least three hours.” The union launched protests last month against a cut in annual bonuses and other benefits at the world’s largest luxury group, even as it keeps The group hasn’t yet publicly commented on the labour dispute. LVMH’s Moet Hennessy alcohol division had no immediate comment when contacted by Reuters on Friday.
Management at the unit had offered to pay a one-off 1,000 euros ($1,162.20) payment to workers after it said it would not pay usual annual bonuses amid a decline in sales, said the CGT, an offer “not at the height of our expectations.”
“It is really important to continue to put pressure on the company,” a CGT official said in the video message, adding that further talks are planned for Wednesday. So far, no strike action has been announced at LVMH’s other drinks businesses, including the Hennessy cognac brand.
Luxury retailer Saks Global is planning to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as soon as Sunday, Bloomberg News reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.
Shoppers walk outside the Saks Fifth Avenue flagship store in Manhattan in New York City, U.S., January 6, 2026 – REUTERS/Angelina Katsanis
The owner of New York’s century-old Fifth Avenue flagship store is preparing to file for bankruptcy without a restructuring deal in place, though it aims to craft one in the coming weeks, according to the report.
The company is also in advanced discussions on about $1.25 billion debtor-in-possession financing package with creditors, which would allow it to keep its business running during bankruptcy and pay vendor dues, the report added.
Saks Global did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.