Sefer Seferi (born 5 March 1979) is an Albanian professional boxer who challenged for the IBO cruiserweight title in 2019. His older brother Nuri Seferi is also a professional boxer.[1]

Sefer Seferi
Born
Sefer Seferi

(1979-03-05) 5 March 1979 (age 45)
NationalityAlbanian
Other namesThe Real Deal
Statistics
Weight(s)Cruiserweight
Heavyweight
Height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Reach75 in (191 cm)
Boxing record
Total fights30
Wins25
Wins by KO23
Losses4
Draws1

Boxing career

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Seferi was born in Gostivar, SFR Yugoslavia (now North Macedonia), and is of Albanian heritage. Whilst in Yugoslavia both he and brother Nuri started out wrestling, a sport which their grandfather had competed in professionally. In 1992 the family fled from Gostivar and moved to Burgdorf, Switzerland. Both brothers took up boxing in order to help with integration into Swiss society.

Seferi made his professional debut in May 2007 in the cruiserweight division. Over the next 9 years he built up a record of 21–0 with 19 knockouts, albeit against low level opposition.

On 17 September 2016, Seferi fought former WBC heavyweight title challenger and future WBA heavyweight champion Manuel Charr for WBA International heavyweight title, with Seferi making the step up to heavyweight for the first time. Charr defeated Seferi by unanimous decision after 10 rounds, ending Seferi's unbeaten record.[2]

On 20 May 2018, Seferi was announced as the first opponent for the return of former unified and lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, with the fight set to take place on 9 June at Manchester Arena. The fight would be Fury's first since he beat Wladimir Klitschko to become champion more than two and half years previously in November 2015.[3][4] In April 2018, several weeks before Fury's opponent was announced, several press outlets reported Seferi was rumoured to have been chosen, with Seferi himself quoted as saying, "This would make my dream come true. I never thought I'd have the chance to stand against Fury, he is my idol. Fury is a boxing legend of the 21st century. He is tall, has weight and strength but moves easily, and he dethroned Klitschko. Fury is a bear."[5] The fight ended in a disappointing fourth round corner retirement loss for Seferi.[6]

On 21 September 2019, he challenged Kevin Lerena in Gauteng, South Africa for his IBO cruiserweight title, but was unsuccessful and lost via third-round technical knockout.[7]

Professional boxing record

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30 fights 25 wins 4 losses
By knockout 23 3
By decision 2 1
Draws 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
30 Loss 25–4–1   Kem Ljungquist RTD 3 (12) 3:00 05 May 2023   Doellefjelde Musse Marked, Nysted, Denmark For vacant IBF International heavyweight title
29 Win 25–3–1   Roman Kracik KO 3 (12) 1:19 18 Jun 2022   Sporthalle Schuetzenmatt, Burgdorf, Switzerland For vacant Universal Boxing Organization World cruiserweight title
28 Win 24–3–1   Laszlo Ivanyi RTD 5 (12) 3:00 30 Nov 2019   Markthalle, Burgdorf, Switzerland
27 Loss 23–3–1   Kevin Lerena TKO 3 (12) 2:30 21 Sep 2019   Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, Gauteng, South Africa For IBO cruiserweight title
26 Draw 23–2–1   Firat Arslan MD 12 17 Nov 2018   Goeppingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany For Global Boxing Union World Cruiserweight Title and WBO Inter-Continental cruiserweight title
25 Loss 23–2   Tyson Fury RTD 4 (10), 3:00 9 Jun 2018   Manchester Arena, Manchester, Lancashire, U.K.
24 Win 23–1   Laszlo Hubert KO 2 (8) 16 Mar 2018   Hallmann Dome, Vienna, Austria
23 Win 22–1   Marcelo Ferreira dos Santos KO 5 (12) 1 Apr 2017   Markthalle, Burgdorf, Switzerland Retained WBF Intercontinental cruiserweight title
22 Loss 21–1   Manuel Charr UD 10 17 Sep 2016   Goeppingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany For vacant WBA International heavyweight title
21 Win 21–0   Laszlo Hubert TKO 2 (12) 23 Apr 2016   Markthalle, Burgdorf, Switzerland Won vacant WBF Intercontinental cruiserweight title
20 Win 20–0   Radenko Kovac KO 1 (6) 27 Jun 2015   Sportpark Lippe, Detmold, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
19 Win 19–0   Sasa Dajic KO 1 (8) 9 May 2015   Hildesheim, Niedersachsen, Germany
18 Win 18–0   Josef Krivka TKO 1 (6) 16 May 2014   CU Arena, Hamburg, Germany
17 Win 17–0   Josip Jalusic TKO 1 (6) 26 Apr 2014   Atrium Sports Center, Buchs, Switzerland
16 Win 16–0   Gyula Bozai UD 6 7 Oct 2012   Boris Trajkovski Sports Arena, Skopje, Macedonia
15 Win 15–0   Marko Angermann TKO 6 (6) 11 Feb 2012   Boxsporthalle Braamkamp, Winterhude, Hamburg, Germany
14 Win 14–0   Josip Jalusic TKO 6 (8) 15 Oct 2011   Sporthalle Schuetzenmatt, Burgdorf, Switzerland
13 Win 13–0   Gabor Zsalek TKO 2 (12) 24 Sep 2011   Gostivar, Macedonia
12 Win 12–0   Istvan Bobis TKO 2 (6) 27 Nov 2010   Gostivar, Macedonia
11 Win 11–0   Viktor Szalai TKO 2 (12) 26 Jun 2010   Calafatti Halle Prater, Vienna, Austria Won vacant WBF Intercontinental cruiserweight title
10 Win 10–0   Tomislav Juric Grgic TKO 4 (6) 26 Dec 2009   Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria
9 Win 9–0   Ferenc Zsalek KO 1 (6) 5 Dec 2009   Sporthalle, Kirchberg, Switzerland
8 Win 8–0   Gyorgy Mihalik TKO 3 (6) 25 Jul 2009   Salla e Sportit, Gostivar, Macedonia
7 Win 7–0   Ivica Cukusic RTD 4 (6) 18 Apr 2009   Pallati i Rinise, Pristina, Kosovo
6 Win 6–0   Roman Klucar TKO 2 (6) 20 Dec 2008   Markthalle, Burgdorf, Switzerland
5 Win 5–0   Attila Makula TKO 4 (6) 28 Nov 2008   Boris Trajkovski Sports Arena, Skopje, Macedonia
4 Win 4–0   Gyorgy Mihalik KO 6 (6) 28 Jun 2008   Markthalle, Burgdorf, Switzerland
3 Win 3–0   Jonathan Pasi TKO 5 (6) 3 May 2008   Sporthalle, Kirchberg, Switzerland
2 Win 2–0   Drazen Ordulj UD 6 8 Dec 2007   Sporthalle, Kirchberg, Switzerland
1 Win 1–0   Anton Lascek TKO 4 (6) 26 May 2007   Sporthalle, Kirchberg, Switzerland

References

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  1. ^ "BoxRec". boxrec.com. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  2. ^ "Manuel Charr Drops, Decisions Alexander Ustinov For WBA Belt". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  3. ^ "Tyson Fury to face Sefer Seferi in next month's comeback fight". The Independent. 20 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  4. ^ "Who is Sefer Seferi? - Boxing News". Boxing News. 21 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  5. ^ "Sefer Seferi says he will be Tyson Fury's comeback opponent". The Independent. 24 April 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  6. ^ "Fury wins comfortably on return to ring". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  7. ^ Persson, Per Ake. "News: Lerena Stops Seferi, Theophane is Back, Szpilka Returns". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 14 May 2021.