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 5 March 1979 |
| Nationality | Albanian |
| Other names | The Real Deal |
| Statistics | |
| Weight(s) | Cruiserweight Heavyweight |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) |
| Reach | 75 in (191 cm) |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 30 |
| Wins | 25 |
| Wins by KO | 23 |
| Losses | 4 |
| Draws | 1 |
Boxing career
editSeferi 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
edit| 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 | RTD | 3 (12) 3:00 | 05 May 2023 | For vacant IBF International heavyweight title | ||
| 29 | Win | 25–3–1 | KO | 3 (12) 1:19 | 18 Jun 2022 | For vacant Universal Boxing Organization World cruiserweight title | ||
| 28 | Win | 24–3–1 | RTD | 5 (12) 3:00 | 30 Nov 2019 | |||
| 27 | Loss | 23–3–1 | TKO | 3 (12) 2:30 | 21 Sep 2019 | For IBO cruiserweight title | ||
| 26 | Draw | 23–2–1 | MD | 12 | 17 Nov 2018 | For Global Boxing Union World Cruiserweight Title and WBO Inter-Continental cruiserweight title | ||
| 25 | Loss | 23–2 | RTD | 4 (10), 3:00 | 9 Jun 2018 | |||
| 24 | Win | 23–1 | KO | 2 (8) | 16 Mar 2018 | |||
| 23 | Win | 22–1 | KO | 5 (12) | 1 Apr 2017 | Retained WBF Intercontinental cruiserweight title | ||
| 22 | Loss | 21–1 | UD | 10 | 17 Sep 2016 | For vacant WBA International heavyweight title | ||
| 21 | Win | 21–0 | TKO | 2 (12) | 23 Apr 2016 | Won vacant WBF Intercontinental cruiserweight title | ||
| 20 | Win | 20–0 | KO | 1 (6) | 27 Jun 2015 | |||
| 19 | Win | 19–0 | KO | 1 (8) | 9 May 2015 | |||
| 18 | Win | 18–0 | TKO | 1 (6) | 16 May 2014 | |||
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | TKO | 1 (6) | 26 Apr 2014 | |||
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | UD | 6 | 7 Oct 2012 | |||
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | TKO | 6 (6) | 11 Feb 2012 | |||
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | TKO | 6 (8) | 15 Oct 2011 | |||
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | TKO | 2 (12) | 24 Sep 2011 | |||
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | TKO | 2 (6) | 27 Nov 2010 | |||
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | TKO | 2 (12) | 26 Jun 2010 | Won vacant WBF Intercontinental cruiserweight title | ||
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | TKO | 4 (6) | 26 Dec 2009 | |||
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | KO | 1 (6) | 5 Dec 2009 | |||
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | TKO | 3 (6) | 25 Jul 2009 | |||
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | RTD | 4 (6) | 18 Apr 2009 | |||
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | TKO | 2 (6) | 20 Dec 2008 | |||
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | TKO | 4 (6) | 28 Nov 2008 | |||
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | KO | 6 (6) | 28 Jun 2008 | |||
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | TKO | 5 (6) | 3 May 2008 | |||
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | UD | 6 | 8 Dec 2007 | |||
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | TKO | 4 (6) | 26 May 2007 |
References
edit- ^ "BoxRec". boxrec.com. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
- ^ "Manuel Charr Drops, Decisions Alexander Ustinov For WBA Belt". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
- ^ "Tyson Fury to face Sefer Seferi in next month's comeback fight". The Independent. 20 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
- ^ "Who is Sefer Seferi? - Boxing News". Boxing News. 21 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
- ^ "Sefer Seferi says he will be Tyson Fury's comeback opponent". The Independent. 24 April 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
- ^ "Fury wins comfortably on return to ring". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
- ^ Persson, Per Ake. "News: Lerena Stops Seferi, Theophane is Back, Szpilka Returns". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 14 May 2021.