Albania is a small country in southeastern Europe with a population of 2.87 million people. Despite its small size, Albania has produced some of the best boxers in the world.
From Olympic Gold Medal winners to world champions, the country has had a long and proud history of boxing. This list looks at some of the best boxing players in Albania, from the legendary Tomor Kuka to the most recent champion, Ardit Murja.
1. Florian Marku
Florian Marku is an accomplished professional athlete who has competed in a variety of fighting sports.
He was born in Albania and has achieved success in boxing, kickboxing, and mixed martial arts. Marku began his combat sports career with kickboxing, where he won multiple national titles. He then transitioned to mixed martial arts, competing in a variety of organizations.
After a successful career in the octagon, he decided to focus his efforts on boxing. Marku has enjoyed great success in the boxing ring, competing in various international tournaments and bouts.
He has won multiple titles in the sport, including the WBA Intercontinental Middleweight Championship.
He has also been ranked as high as #8 in the world middleweight rankings by the WBA. In addition to his professional fighting career, Marku has also been involved in coaching and training.
He has trained multiple boxers and kickboxers, helping them to reach the peak of their respective sports.
He has also been involved in the promotion of combat sports in his native Albania, helping to raise the profile of the sport in the country. Overall, Florian Marku is an accomplished professional athlete who has dedicated his life to the sport of combat sports.
He has achieved success in multiple disciplines and has helped to promote the sport in his home country. His dedication and commitment to the sport is an inspiration to all who aspire to become professional athletes.
2. Andrea Derjaj
Andrea Derjaj is a talented Albanian boxer in the 91 kg weight division. He is a three-time defending national champion, having won the championship in his weight division three consecutive times. This impressive feat is a testament to his skill and dedication as a boxer.
Additionally, he is a member of the Albania national youth team. This recognition by the national team speaks to his commitment to the sport and his potential to represent Albania on the international stage.
As a result of his success, Derjaj has become a source of pride for his country, inspiring others to pursue their dreams and reach the same level of success.
3. Alban Beqiri
Alban Beqiri is a talented boxer from Albania. He recently made history by becoming the first and only person from his country to win a medal at the 2021 AIBA World Boxing Championships.
Beqiri was awarded the bronze medal in the light middleweight event, a huge achievement for not only the boxer himself but for his country as well. His success at the tournament is a testament to his hard work and dedication to the sport of boxing.
He has shown that with determination and perseverance, anything is possible. Beqiri’s victory is sure to inspire other Albanian athletes to strive for greatness and create their own successes.
4. Elvir Muriqi
Elvir Muriqi is a professional boxer from Albania. Born in 1996, he has been boxing since he was a young boy, and has been competing professionally since 2016.
He is a two-time national champion and has represented Albania in the European Boxing Championships and the European Games. He is a highly-ranked professional boxer, currently ranked 12th in the world by the World Boxing Association.
He is known for his aggressive style of boxing, and his powerful punches. He has won numerous titles during his career, including the WBO Intercontinental Light Heavyweight Championship in 2020.
He is currently training to compete in the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo and hopes to bring home a medal for his country. Elvir Muriqi is an example of the hard work and dedication it takes to succeed in the sport of boxing.
5. Kreshnik Qato
Kreshnik Nick Qato was one of the most successful professional boxers to come out of Albania. He was active in the sport from 2001 to 2014 and achieved numerous accolades during his career.
Qato won multiple regional titles in the super-middleweight division, including the WBA Inter-Continental title in 2004. This was the first of many titles he would go on to win, as he went on to dominate his weight class in the following years.
Qato was known for his agility and strength in the ring, which made him a formidable opponent for any fighter. He was able to out-think and out-maneuver his opponents with ease, and his impressive boxing record speaks for itself.
During his time as a professional boxer, Qato had a total of 83 fights, with 43 wins, 33 losses and 7 draws.
He held several regional titles, including the WBA Inter-Continental title, as well as the International Boxing Association Middleweight Title and the European Union Middleweight Title. Qato was a beloved figure in Albania and his career was highly respected.
He was an inspiration for aspiring boxers in his home country and was known for his dedication to the sport. After retiring in 2014, Qato continued to stay involved in the boxing community, coaching and mentoring younger fighters.
He was a true champion in the sport and his legacy will live on for many years to come.
6. Sefer Seferi
Sefer Seferi is an Albanian professional boxer who is currently making waves in the boxing world. He is best known for challenging for the IBO cruiserweight title in 2019, which he ultimately failed to win.
Despite this setback, Sefer has continued to build an impressive boxing record and is now widely regarded as one of the best Albanian boxers of all time. Sefer is not the only boxer in his family, however. He is the older brother of fellow professional boxer, Nuri Seferi.
Nuri has been boxing for a number of years now and has been able to make a name for himself in the sport, with an impressive record. He and his brother Sefer have been training together for years, and have built a strong bond through their shared passion for boxing.
7. Ermal Hadribeaj
Ermal Hadribeaj is an accomplished athlete in both professional boxing and mixed martial arts. He was born in Albania and moved to the United States when he was young.
After settling in the US, Ermal quickly began to make a name for himself in the world of combat sports. In boxing, Ermal has competed in multiple weight classes, including featherweight, lightweight, and welterweight.
He has been a professional boxer since 2009 and has recorded an impressive win-loss record.
Ermal has competed in numerous high-level fights, including a World Boxing Association (WBA) International Super Featherweight Championship bout in 2013. Ermal has also had a successful career in mixed martial arts (MMA).
He began competing in MMA in 2008 and has since recorded wins in multiple promotions, including the Strikeforce, Bellator, and Affliction promotions.
Ermal has had notable fights against some of the best fighters in the sport, including former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort. Although Ermal has had a successful career in both boxing and MMA, he retired from MMA in 2017 and is currently focusing on his boxing career.
Ermal is a highly respected athlete in both combat sports and is considered one of the best in the world.
8. Juergen Uldedaj
Jurgen Uldedaj is a professional boxer whose roots can be traced back to Albania. He was born in Albania but is currently a citizen of Germany. He is highly regarded in the boxing world and has made a name for himself in the sport.
Uldedaj has competed in several professional boxing matches and has had a successful career. He is currently ranked as one of the top boxers in the world and is known for his powerful punches and strong defensive strategies.
Uldedaj is also well-renowned for his strong work ethic and dedication to training, which has helped him become one of the most successful Albanian-born boxers in history. He is an inspiration to many aspiring boxers in Germany and around the world.
Conclusion
The best boxing players in Albania are a top-notch group of athletes. They are some of the best in the entire world, and they are continuing to prove their worth in the ring.
Their hard work, dedication, and commitment to their sport is truly inspiring, and they are setting a great example for other aspiring boxers in Albania.
