Labinot Xhoxhaj upsets Zakhozhyi, wins EBU heavyweight title

Labinot Xhoxhaj upsets Zakhozhyi, wins EBU heavyweight titleKosovo’s Labinot Xhoxhaj (20-0-1, 16 KOs) caused a major upset on Saturday night in Heidelberg, Germany dethroning EBU Heavyweight champion, Oleksandr Zakhozhyi of Ukraine (19-1, 15 KOs).

Xhoxhaj accepted fight at late notice, substituting Arnold Gjergjaj who pulled out because of an injury.

Zakhozhyi was seen as heavy favorite against Xhoxhaj, specially since Kosovan almost all fights of his career made in cruiserweight.

Zakhozhyi started strongly and dropped Xhoxhaj in second round. But the Kosovan got up and he then dominated. He dropped the 206-centimeters tall Ukrainian with a strong right in round ten. Xhoxhaj in the end won via unanimous decision (116:110, 115:111 and 116:110).

In co-main event Tina Rupprecht (14-1-1) defeated Japan’s Eri Matsuda (7-2-1) via unanimous decision in an unification fight for WBC, WBA and WBO atomweight world titles.