Elvir Muriqi-Biography

BIOGRAPHY

Elvir Muriqi was born and raised in Kosovo, Albania. Due to the outbreak of war and ethnic cleansing in his country, his father moved the family to the safety of the United States when Muriqi was 15.

Growing up in Kosovo, Muriqi took part in a variety of sports activities: soccer, kickboxing (raking up an impressive record) and boxing. He won Kosovo’s national amateur kickboxing championship and started training for the Olympic games a dream he had to give up because of moving to America.

Once in the States he continued with his boxing and went on to win the East Coast and Tri-State Championship and the 1998 Golden Gloves at Madison Square Garden.

He made such an impression on the crowd and judges that renowned commentator Gil Clancy went on record to say, “ Muriqi is the best prospect I have seen in years”

Muriqi’s most memorable moment came on July 23rd, 2002 at New Rock City in New Rochelle, New York, when he scored a highlight reel knockout over Philadelphia’s Sam Ahmad.

The first round of this wild affair featured three knockdowns, two of Muriqi and one of Ahmad. Muriqi was down twice more in the second, but showed his trademark heart in storming back to stop Ahmad the following round. The fight one of the most exciting ever televised on ESPN2.

On April 30th, 2005, he dropped a disappointing split decision against Oleksandr Garashchenkoon. On July 28, 2006 after a brief hiatus from the ring, at Monticello Raceway, Monticello, NY, he returned with a very impressive win over the 22-3 Marlon Hayes. Showing improvements in every area of his game, Muriqi cruised to a near shutout victory over the respectable Hayes.

People who have seen Muriqi fight all say the same thing he fights with the guts and heart of a lion. Fighting and adversity is no stranger to this young man from war torn Kosovo he has experienced all the ugliness of war first hand, so he fears nothing and no- one in the ring.

His sister Elindi, left school in America at the age of 16 to join the Kosovo Liberation Army along with their father Ramiz, who helped supply food and clothing for 180,000 homeless refugees, his father is a true war hero.

June 9, 2007, Muriqi finally got his chance to fight for the vacant IBO Light Heavyweight Championship live on Showtime Championship Boxing against former IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Antonio “The Magic Man” Tarver

Fighting from the inside, Muriqi seemed to surprise Tarver with some big shots and hard work to the body. But by the sixth, Tarver began landing crisp, punishing combinations in flurries to clearly outscore his opponent.

Muriqi never gave up and often fought back with vigor to the delight of the boxing fans. In the end, the near capacity crowd at Exhibit Hall was on its feet urging the fighters to the final bell.

The judges scored the contest 114 apiece, 116-112 and 115-113 for Tarver. This is still a bitter pill for Muriqi to swallow, and hopes to one day avenge this loss, he believes to this day he won.