Albania\u2019s Juergen Uldedaj (22-1-0) will make a major homecoming on October 23 when he defends his IBO Cruiserweight World Championship against former IBO Light Heavyweight World Champion Blake Caparello (34-4-1) of Australia infront of a sold-out crowd at the Feti Borova Olympic Park in Tirana.<\/p>\n
Presented by SES Boxing \/ Blanko Sports in association with Crown Boxing International, the fight brings World Championship boxing to the Albanian capital as Uldedaj returns home as the reigning World Champion.<\/p>\n
THE CHAMPION COMES HOME<\/p>\n
Juergen Uldedaj turned professional with SES Boxing in Germany in 2015 and has built his career across Europe and beyond. During his rise through the professional ranks, he collected titles affiliated with all four major world sanctioning bodies, becoming WBO and WBC Youth Champion before capturing the WBA Continental and IBF International titles.<\/p>\n
His journey ultimately took him to the UK, where he fought at a sold-out Co-op Live Arena in Manchester before winning the IBO Cruiserweight World Title in front of 10,000 boxing fans at the 02 Arena in London in October 2025. Uldedaj returned to the UK\u2019s capital in May of this year to successfully defend his crown at Wembley Arena. Now, more than a decade after turning professional, he brings the World Title home to Albania.<\/p>\n
Juergen Uldedaj said:<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m delighted to finally return home to Tirana to defend my World Title. Blake Caparello is coming to Albania to conquer my belt, but he has made the wrong decision. I am the Champion \u2013 this is my time, my territory and my title.\u201c<\/p>\n
CAPARELLO TARGETS SECOND IBO WORLD TITLE<\/p>\n
Australia\u2019s Blake \u201cIl Capo\u201d Caparello arrives in Tirana with World Championship pedigree. This will not be the first time Caparello has stood in the way of Albanian boxing ambitions. In 2014, the Australian defeated Elvir Muriqi in the United States. Now he heads to Tirana looking to spoil another Albanian dream by taking Uldedaj\u2019s IBO Cruiserweight World Title. The highly experienced Caparello has shared the ring with elite World Champions such as Sergey Kovalev and Andre Direll, and previously reigned as the IBO Light Heavyweight World Champion.<\/p>\n
Blake Caparello said: <\/p>\n
\u201cJuergen has earned himself the IBO World Title, congratulations, Champ, but he hasn\u2019t fought anyone of my caliber. I\u2019ve been in the ring with world-class fighters and that experience is going to show come fight night. I won my first IBO World Title October 2013 and now 13 years later I\u2019m going to claim my second IBO World Title. I\u2019m the happiest I\u2019ve ever been in the gym, we will come out victorious on October 23.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brendan Bourke, Caparello\u2019s manager, said:<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d like to thank Blanko Sports and Crown Boxing International for putting this fight together, and also Blake\u2019s promoter Joe DeGuardia from Star Boxing for being on board with the fight. Blake is ready, Juergen is a worthy champion \u2013 I\u2019m looking forward to this fight!\u201d<\/p>\n
Straight from the heart of New York City, Caparello\u2019s promoter Joe DeGuardia is a veteran of the American boxing scene with a career spanning more than three decades. DeGuardia promoted his first event in New York in 1992 and has since promoted more than 200 professional boxing shows. As President of Star Boxing, he has been involved with the biggest names of the sport and in major championship events throughout his career.<\/p>\n
Joe DeGuardia, president of Star Boxing, said:<\/p>\n
\u201cBlake is a former IBO Light Heavyweight World Champion, and he is excited to have the opportunity to become a two-division World Champion by challenging Juergen Uldedaj for the IBO Cruiserweight World Championship. He understands the significance of traveling to Tirana to face the defending champion in his home country and is fully committed to making the most of this opportunity. We appreciate Benedikt Poelchau of Blanko Sports and Crown Boxing International working with us to bring this world-title fight together, and we look forward to an exciting night of boxing on October 23.\u201d<\/p>\n
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING IN TIRANA<\/p>\n
Germany\u2019s leading boxing promotional company, SES Boxing, is headed by founder Ulf Steinforth and international boxing operator Benedikt Poelchau, after Poelchau\u2019s Blanko Sports Holding acquired a significant stake in the company. Over more than 25 years in professional boxing, SES Boxing has promoted more than 200 events, developed multiple European and World Champions and established itself among the leading boxing promoters on the international stage.<\/p>\n
Benedikt Poelchau, CEO of SES Boxing and Blanko Sports Holding, said:<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the most significant international fight Albania has hosted so far and on October 23rd the eyes of the boxing world will be on Tirana. After fighting on the biggest stages in Europe, it was always Juergen\u2019s dream to bring a World Title fight back to his home country. In Caparello, Juergen is facing not only the biggest name of his career but also his toughest and most experienced challenger. I\u2019m delighted that we were able to make this happen and I want to thank everyone involved \u2013 I\u2019m looking forward to a fantastic night of boxing in Tirana\u201c.<\/p>\n
Ulf Steinforth, CEO of SES Boxing said:<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have built Juergen Uldedaj from the very beginning, from a four-round debutant into a 12-round elite fighter. Eight years ago, we brought Juergen\u2019s WBO Youth Title fight to Tirana and now he returns for the first time since \u2013 this time as the IBO World Champion. To see his journey is something special to me. Juergen has earned this moment. I\u2019m excepting an exiting fight and I can\u2019t wait for October 23rd in Tirana.\u201c<\/p>\n
Leading television partners DIGITALB and Klan Kosova will bring the action to fans across Albania and Kosovo. Further international broadcast partners and worldwide viewing information will be announced ahead of fight night.<\/p>\n
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