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Florian Marku

Florian Marku is an Albanian professional boxer and former kickboxer[1] and mixed martial artist. He is a former criminal who spent two years in prison.

Professional career

Marku made his professional debut on 1 December 2018, scoring a first-round technical knockout (TKO) victory against Nikola Janicievic at the Beste Event Halle in Ulm, Germany.[2]

In November 2020, after compiling a record of 7–0 (5 KOs), he signed a promotional contract with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Sport.[3] The following month, Marku faced Jamie Stewart at The SSE Arena in London. The bout served as part of the undercard for Anthony Joshua vs. Kubrat Pulev and was televised live on Sky Sports Box Office. In a fight which saw Marku drop his opponent to the canvas with a punch to the body in the second round, the result was controversially announced as a draw, with referee Marcus McDonnell scoring the bout 76–76.[4][5]

Marku returned to The SSE Arena for his next fight, facing Rylan Charlton on 20 February 2021. Marku boxed well and controlled a lot of the fight but suffered a knockdown in the sixth round from a right hand by Charlton, Marku went on to secure an eighth-round TKO after Charlton's corner threw in the towel after their charge was on the receiving end of a sustained attack by Marku.[6]

Marku had been scheduled to challenge IBF International welterweight champion Maxim Prodan on 7 August 2021 as part of Matchroom's Fight Camp,[7] but the fight was postponed when Marku suffered an injury. On 25 August, it was announced that the bout would now take place on 25 September at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the undercard of Anthony Joshua vs. Oleksandr Usyk which he won via split decision after 10 rounds against Maxim Prodan.[8]

On March 31, 2024 in London, Marku was scheduled to face Chris Kongo.[9]

Professional boxing record

References

  1. ^ "Watch Florian Marku's homecoming clash on Sky Sports stream". Sky Sports. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  2. ^ "BoxRec: Florian Marku vs. Nikola Janicievic". BoxRec. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  3. ^ "Florian Marku: Albanian welterweight signs with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing". Sky Sports. 27 November 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  4. ^ Benson, Michael (12 December 2020). "'Are you joking?' - Angry Albanian Florian Marku goes on stunning rant after draw". Talksport. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  5. ^ Dixon, Tris (12 December 2020). "Joshua-Pulev undercard action: Welterweight Florian Marku held to controversial draw by Jamie Stewart". The Ring. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  6. ^ Lewis, Ron (20 February 2021). "Florian Marku Gets Off The Floor, Stops Rylan Charlton in Eight". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Matchroom Fight Camp 2: Who is fighting? What are the main events? Dates, how to watch and more info | DAZN News Canada". DAZN. 14 June 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Joshua vs Usyk: Lawrence Okolie, Callum Smith and Campbell Hatton added to bill". www.britishboxingnews.co.uk. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  9. ^ Iskenderov, Parviz (10 February 2024). "Florian Marku faces Chris Kongo on Wardley vs Clarke undercard". FIGHTMAG.

External links