Luan Krasniqi

Luan Krasniqi was born on May 10th, 1971 as the youngest of eight children from Kosovo-Albanian parents. Enjoying a happy and active childhood, Luan grew up in Junik, where in 1987 he finished his primary and secondary school, before his family moved to Rottweil in Germany: "My childhood was good," recalls Luan. "But when I learned that we would be rejoining my father who had moved to Rottweil in 1970 I was overjoyed. I had dreamt about a move to the city and now it was coming true!" Luan graduated in Germany his A-Level and an education as a wholesaler. His boxing-career began at the local BSV Rottweil, where met Theo Kerekesch, a boxing trainer of high regard.

Spotting talent and kinship within each other, hard work developed Luan into a solid well schooled heavyweight. Once Luan had been granted German citizenship, he entered the Multi-Nations Tournament in Liverpool (UK) and won the gold medal. He consolidated the success with a gold medal later that year at the German Championships, Berlin. 1995 saw Luan storm the World Championships, Berlin, by taking the silver medal - losing only to the vastly experienced Cuban great, Felix Savon. Luan ended the year on a roll, taking the Heavyweight Gold in the International Chemie Cup Tournament, Halle. After three years of triumphs at the Olympic Games he reached a semi-final bout with Felix Savon in Atlanta, 1996.

Luan, cut under the eye in his last bout, was forced to withdraw upon doctors advice. This left him unable to fight for an Olympic Gold Medal. He returned home with the Bronze medal, Germany's first heavyweight medal since 1976. Luan was understandably disappointed at losing his chance to avenge his previous loss to Savon. "I felt that I could have beaten him. He had out-pointed me the previous year but I had grown stronger and developed further since then. I am sure that the fight would have been close but I think that this time, I would have celebrated." However, Luan has many memories to savour from Atlanta - one of which was a meeting with his idol, Muhammad Ali. "Muhammad Ali was and still is an idol. Nobody can ever achieve what he achieved. Such a thing is a once in a lifetime phenomenon."

"To shine so long and so brightly, to define eras in history with the sheer force of his ability and personality and to be so well remembered is unique. Meeting him was an honour I shall never forget." His first steps to his own fame, did Luan as he decided to become famous and to get in at Panix Promotions, Lenox Lewis has his contrate. Luan won his first fight (with Harry Senior, 02.09.97) with half a point projection. In order to improve his training he was invated to Lennox Lewis in Big Bear Lake, where he was training for the fight against Golota. Luan show that he could resist the pression of the sparring with Lewis. Since then he was three times there.

During the training for the fights against Briggs, Mavrovic and Holyfield he was one of the sparring partners. The first hurdles of his career as a "newcomer" in the professional boxing Luan overcame with success. 15 times he boxed successfully for Panix Promotion and in 2000 after Lennox Lewis had terminated his contrate, Luan decided to look after a new alternative. In february and april 2000 he build his connactions with Universum Box-Promotion and absolvated some fights for them. In january 2001 he signed a three years long contrate with Universum Box-Promotion. The highlight of his career was the fight against Rene Monse, when he became Europe-champion. He was the first german Europe-champion since 29 years.

A half year later Krasniqi lost his belt in a fight against Przemyslaw Saleta. The man from Rottweil was prepared for eight rounds. But after an injury of Vitali Klitschko, his fight was pushed to the main event. So the guy from Rottweil had just four weeks of preperation and had to risk his title. And things happened, like the happen, if you are not prepared: Leading by points, Krasniqi had a lack of power and had to stop at the beginning of round nine. After this sad defeat he began to fight back to the top of the european ranking. Finally at the 14/02/04 he celebrate the victory over hie stablemate Sinan Samil Sam und took "his" belt back home.