The Vllaznia Memorial Tournament was held in the city of Shkoder in Albania which is the country’s main international competition. Montenegro’s Milos Roganovic, Albania’s Kristian Koco and Kosovo’s Bashkim Bajoku were all among the winners of the traditional Vllaznia Memorial Tournament.
Albania bagged some historic medals in this century since 2003 and the country’s boxing life is in developing stage. The Vllaznia Memorial Tournament supported the preparation of the participating boxers for the upcoming European Elite Boxing Championships.
The bout of the finals
Kristian Koco, the next Albanian, Emanuel’s brother was more successful in the finals of the Vllaznia Memorial Tournament. The national team member of the host nation had a hard job against Kosovo’s Lumturim Xhoxhaj and he had to increase his rhythm from the second round. Xhoxhaj, who came from also a real boxing family, was a competitive opponent for Kristian Koco, but the Albanian won this 60kg final by split decision.
The surprise of the finals
Montenegro’s Radisav Loncar competed at the 2025 edition of the European U19 Boxing Championships in Ostrava and despite his age of 19, the young boxer was the favourite against Albania’s Devi Doni at the 85kg final. The boxer from Montenegro used his strength to catch the local boxer but Doni was slightly better in this tight contest.
The Round-Up
Kosovo sent a few excellent boxers in the recent main international events and the Olympic Qualifiers in 2024 and one of them was Bashkim Bajoku, who moved down to the 55kg this year. This weight class is better for the experienced Kosovan who defeated Albania’s Emanuel Koco by split decision with solid performance.
Montenegro’s Milos Roganovic competed at the 2024 edition of the Youth World Boxing Championships and the European U23 Boxing Championships last November. Montenegro’s young sensation maintained the best fighting distance in the final of the 70kg well enough and the 20-year-old talent defeated Kristian Bejko of Albania unanimously.
Albania’s multiple Champion Arjon Kajoshi is a veteran boxer in the national team who tried to qualify already for the Rio Olympic Games ten years ago. The experienced boxer returned to the squad and he underlined in the final of the 75kg that he is still the better athlete than Kosovo’s Planet Berisha.
Kosovo’s Taulant Jakupi, the former European Youth bronze medallist, was too strong for Albania’s Muasom Toska and the 22-year-old boxer claimed the title of the 90kg weight category in Shkoder. Albania’s Emanuel Kalaj won the super heavyweight bout against his teammate, Ergis Aliaj in the title contest among the big boys.