Arnold Gjergjaj

Last updated
Arnold Gjergjaj
Born
Arnold Gjergjaj

(1984-10-08) 8 October 1984 (age 39)
Gjakova, Kosovo
NationalitySwiss
Other namesThe Cobra
Statistics
Weight(s) Heavyweight
Height1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
Reach201 cm (79 in)
Boxing record
Total fights37
Wins34
Wins by KO25
Losses3

Arnold Gjergjaj (born 8 October 1984) is a Swiss professional boxer. [1] In 2014 he won the EBU-EE version of the European heavyweight title, becoming the first boxer fighting under a Swiss license to do so. [2]

Contents

Boxing career

Gjergjaj began as a wrestler from a young age and later moved to kickboxing before taking up boxing. A three-time Swiss amateur champion, [3] he turned professional at the age of 25 and made his debut in 2009. For the majority of his career he has fought low level opposition in Switzerland, building up an undefeated record of 29-0 with 21 knockouts.

Gjergjaj is trained by Angelo Gallina, who is also his manager. [3] He has trained with world champions such as Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko, Tyson Fury and other top fighters as a sparring partner. He also learned in training sessions under the now deceased legendary German boxing coach Fritz Sdunek. He cites British former undisputed heavyweight world champion Lennox Lewis as his boxing idol. Gjergjaj won the EBU-EE European heavyweight title in October 2014, beating Adnan Redzovic by a knockout in the 9th round. [4] He defended his title against Denis Bakhtov in June 2015, winning on points despite suffering a broken hand and burst eardrum, and being knocked down in the fifth round for the first time in his career. [5]

On 30 March 2016, it was announced that Gjergjaj would be the second opponent of former champion David Haye since Haye made his return to boxing after a three-year layoff. The fight, which was the biggest of Gjergjaj career to date, took place at The O2 Arena in London on 21 May 2016. [6] Haye received criticism from some fans for picking a second relatively unknown and moderately ranked opponent. [7] However, Gjergjaj was ranked 24th in the world on the independent platform Boxrec before the match with Haye, and at no. 8 in Europe by the EBU. [8] Haye stopped Gjergjaj in the second round via TKO, after having put him on the canvas three times before the referee stopped the fight. [9] [10]

Personal life

Gjergjaj was born in Gjakova, Kosovo and he moved to Pratteln, Basel in Switzerland with his family when he was 14 years old. [11] After graduating from school he trained as a heating engineer. [11] Gjergjaj married his wife Marta in August 2014 in Pratteln. [12] He has been involved in fields such as developmental aid organization Terre des Hommes Switzerland and has shown commitment to helping the youth in his hometown, where he opened his own boxing club "Arnold Boxfit" on 23 January 2016. [13] [14]

Professional boxing record

33 fights, 31 wins (23 knockouts), 2 losses [15]
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
33Win31-2 Flag of Georgia.svg Gogita GorgiladzeKO2 (8), 1:121 Sep 2018 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Kultur und Sportzentrum (Kuspo), Pratteln, Switzerland
32Loss30-2 Flag of Ireland.svg Sean TurnerKO8 (8), 1:459 Dec 2017 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Grand Casino, Basel, Switzerland
31Win30-1 Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Jasmin Hasic TKO5 (8), 1:0017 Dec 2016 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Kaserne, Basel, Switzerland
30Loss29-1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg David Haye TKO2 (10), 1:3521 May 2016 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg The O2 Arena, Greenwich, London
29Win29-0 Flag of Croatia.svg Marino GolesTKO1 (8), 0:455 Dec 2015 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Umweltarena, Spreitenbach, Switzerland
28Win28-0 Flag of Russia.svg Denis Bakhtov UD126 Jun 2015 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg St. Jakob Halle, Basel, Switzerland Retained EBU-EE (European External European Union) heavyweight title.
27Win27-0 Flag of Hungary.svg Zoltan CsalaUD827 Feb 2015 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Grand Casino, Basel, Switzerland
26Win26-0 Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Adnan RedzovicKO9 (12), 2:504 Oct 2014 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg St. Jakob Halle, Basel, Switzerland Won vacant EBU-EE (European External European Union) heavyweight title.
25Win25-0 Flag of Hungary.svg Tibor BaloghTKO2 (8), 2:209 Jun 2014 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Seminar Hotel Lueg, Kaltacker, Burgdorf, Switzerland
24Win24-0 Flag of Argentina.svg Emilio ZarateKO7 (8)15 Mar 2014 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Grand Casino, Basel, Switzerland
23Win23-0 Flag of Brazil.svg Gilberto DomingosTKO1 (8), 2:1526 Dec 2013 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Kursaal, Bern, Switzerland
22Win22-0 Flag of Argentina.svg Nelson DominguezKO3 (8), 2:1911 May 2013 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Grand Casino, Basel, Switzerland
21Win21-0 Flag of Finland.svg Janne Katajisto KO3 (8), 0:2023 Mar 2013 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Volkshaus, Basel, Switzerland
20Win20-0 Flag of Belarus.svg Yury BykhautsouTKO3 (8), 2:1026 Dec 2012 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Kursaal, Bern, Switzerland
19Win19-0 Flag of Ukraine.svg Maksym PedyuraTKO2 (8), 2:501 Dec 2012 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Grand Casino, Basel, Switzerland
18Win18-0 Flag of Poland.svg Mateusz MalujdaTKO1 (8), 2:0320 Oct 2012 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Markthalle, Basel, Switzerland
17Win17-0 Flag of Germany.svg Alexander KahlKO1 (6), 1:1815 Sep 2012 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Grand Casino, Basel, Switzerland
16Win16-0 Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Adnan BuharalijaTKO3 (8), 1:5014 Apr 2012 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Pfaffenholzturnhalle, Basel, Switzerland
15Win15-0 Flag of Nigeria.svg Prince Anthony IkejiKO2 (8), 1:3817 Dec 2011 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Kaserne, Basel, Switzerland
14Win14-0 Flag of Hungary.svg Laszlo TothKO3 (8)12 Nov 2011 Flag of Hungary.svg City Sporthall, Szekszárd, Hungary
13Win13-0 Flag of Hungary.svg Gabor FarkasUD81 Oct 2011 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Turnhalle Landstrasse, Gebenstorf, Switzerland
12Win12-0 Flag of Hungary.svg Ferenc ZsalekDQ6 (8), 1:5020 Aug 2011 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Kursaal, Bern, Switzerland
11Win11-0 Flag of Lithuania.svg Igoris BoruchaUD628 May 2011 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Sporthalle Badbetrieb, Bad Ragaz, Switzerland
10Win10-0 Flag of Romania.svg Liviu UngureanuTKO3 (6), 2:577 May 2011 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Salle Sport, Lausanne, Switzerland
9Win9-0 Flag of Latvia.svg Pavels DolgovsUD65 Feb 2011 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Turnhalle Eg, Frenkendorf, Switzerland
8Win8-0 Flag of Poland.svg Tomasz ZeprzalkaTKO5 (6), 2:4018 Dec 2010 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Kaserne, Basel, Switzerland
7Win7-0 Flag of Bulgaria.svg Dimitar StoimenovUD618 Jul 2010 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Kaserne, Basel, Switzerland
6Win6-0 Flag of Hungary.svg Gabor FarkasTKO3 (6)29 May 2010 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Kursaal, Bern, Switzerland
5Win5-0 Flag of Hungary.svg Norbert SallaiTKO4 (6), 2:2517 Apr 2010 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Airporthotel, Basel, Switzerland
4Win4-0 Flag of Bulgaria.svg Yavor MarinchevUD626 Mar 2010 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Palestra Nuova, Ascona, Switzerland
3Win3-0 Flag of Hungary.svg Sandor BaloghTKO6 (6), 2:3019 Dec 2009 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Kaserne, Basel, Switzerland
2Win2-0 Flag of Hungary.svg Zoltan HuffnerKO1 (6), 2:305 Dec 2009 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Sporthalle, Kirchberg, Switzerland
1Win1-0 Flag of Poland.svg Dariusz BallaTKO2 (4), 1:0129 Aug 2009 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Römertheater, Augusta Raurica, Augst, Switzerland

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References

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