This will be an excellent heavyweight match-up for the hardcore fans. On June 7th at the Universum Gym in Hamburg, Germany, Labinot Xhoxhaj (20-0-1, 16 KOs), the European heavyweight champion, will face Mourad Aliev (13-0, 10 KOs) of France. Xhoxhaj turned pro in 2016. The Kosovo-born boxer has fought in Germany, Kosovo, and Switzerland during his rise. Age 32, Xhoxhaj earned a victory over the always-combative Tamas Lodi, although he was held to a draw by Milosav Savic. He was expected to lose to the much bigger Oleksandr Zakhozhyi, but he recovered from an early knockdown to score one of his own, en route to a twelve-round unanimous decision that netted him the European belt (pictured).

 

Aliev (13-0, 10 KOs) is a 6'7" southpaw. He was a standout amateur who represented France at the 2021 Olympics. In those Olympics, Aliev was disqualified in a quarterfinal bout against Great Britain's Frazer Clarke. Aliev was warned, then disqualified for using his head. He immediately went nuts, but protested the result and remained in the ring for over 30 minutes. Clarke had cuts over both eyes. Since turning pro, he has fought primarily in Germany. The 29-year-old has scored wins over Yakup Saglam, Evgenios Lazaridis, and, most recently, David Brito. The card will be streamed live on DAZN.