Last night at the Hallensportzentrum in Lahr, Germany, the European heavyweight title fight took place between defending champion Labinot Xhoxhaj of Kosovo and Sweden’s Pezhman Seifkhani. Xhoxhaj emerged victorious, knocking Seifkhani out in the fourth round with a sharp right hook following a sustained attack that came after an initial knockdown.
Despite its brevity, the bout was marked by the clear technical superiority of the Kosovan fighter, who displayed a style built on movement, skill, and excellent timing.
Xhoxhaj, a 32-year-old from Kosovo now residing in Lahr, entered the fight with an unbeaten record (22-0-1, 17 KOs), with the only blemish being a draw against Serbia’s Milosav Savic. In his most recent outings, he had secured two unanimous decision victories over undefeated opponents Oleksandr Zakhozhyi and Mourad Aliev.
Seifkhani (17-2-0, 12 KOs), a 35-year-old boxer of Iranian origin, had suffered only one knockout loss, against Awadh Tamin—a defeat he avenged in the rematch. He came into the contest on a three-fight winning streak, most recently defeating Italy’s Eduardo Giustini.
The fight began with Xhoxhaj pressing forward, immediately showcasing an excellent jab—sharp, accurate, and powerful. Seifkhani mainly worked on the counter, looking for the heavy shot but repeatedly finding Xhoxhaj well protected. As early as the first round, the challenger absorbed too many punches due to a far-from-airtight guard and noticeable lack of mobility, which made the champion’s task easier.
Seifkhani appeared more comfortable at mid-range, in the rare instances when he managed to let his straight right hand go. At close range, however, he consistently struggled, looking awkward and passive. Xhoxhaj kept driving forward, closing the distance and attacking the Swede, whose offensive output proved too limited and reliant on single punches.
Xhoxhaj soon began varying his attacks, frequently stepping in with a left hook as an alternative to the jab, catching his rival off guard and taking advantage of his static stance.
In the fourth round, Xhoxhaj increased the pressure further, backing the Swede to the ropes behind his jab and unleashing well-crafted combinations. Seifkhani seemed to withstand the assault at first, but when Xhoxhaj loaded up a powerful right overhand following a jab to the body, he could do nothing to avoid going down for the first knockdown.
Smartly, Seifkhani waited for the referee’s count before rising, but he had no escape from the Kosovan’s next attack. Once he was trapped again along the ropes, Xhoxhaj launched a prolonged combination that culminated in a heavy right hook to the jaw. Seifkhani went down once more—this time unable to get back up. Knockout in the fourth round.
Xhoxhaj proved far superior both technically and in terms of footwork and punch variety. A fine victory that confirms him as European heavyweight champion, ready for bigger and more prestigious challenges.