Bulgaria’s Ivaylo Kolev won his final bout by KO, while Croatia’s Niko Goreta defeated a European U17 Champion, Montenegro’s Matija Roganovic in the Lah Nimani U19 Tournament in Kosovo’s capital city, Prishtina.
Boxers who were born in 2008 and in 2009 were eligible to participate in the Lah Nimani U19 Tournament this year. Kosovo Boxing Federation’s international event was a good test before the start of the European U19 Boxing Championships.
Mr. Lah Nimani was a legendary boxing coach in Kosovo, one of the most successful sports figures of the country during the Yugoslavian era. Mr. Fazli Hajrizi, the Professor from Mitrovica, introduced his book this year which was dedicated to Mr. Lah Nimani, the “Emblem of Eternity”.
The bout of the day
Montenegro’s European U17 Champion Matija Roganovic is a fantastic talent in our sport who has just joined the U19 age group. Montenegro’s pride won his semi-final contest in the Lah Nimani Tournament on Day1 but he had a cut during the bout which made his final more difficult. His opponent in the final was from Croatia, Niko Goreta, a one-year older boxer, with plenty of European experience therefore their title contest was the most anticipated one in Prishtina. Matija’s elder brother, Milos claimed the gold medal at the Belgrade Winner Tournament on Sunday but he had to travel back to Montenegro with only a silver this time.
The surprise of the day
Bulgaria’s Oktay Nazifov competed in the 2025 edition of the Mustafa Hajrulahovic Memorial Tournament and he is the silver medallist from their U19 Nationals. The Bulgarian faced in the final of the 50kg an Albanian boy, Mystehak Rama, and surprisingly he was not able to keep the rhythm of this bout. The Albanian was not only competitive for Nazifov but he had the stamina in the last round to beat the Bulgarian athlete in Prishtina.
The Round-up
The Kosovan organizers and the Technical Delegate of the Tournament divided the participants into two groups in several of the crowded weight categories as the 60kg, 65kg, 70kg and 80kg. Croatia’s Petar Krpan will be turning 17 only later this year but he had the skills to beat Bulgaria’s Antonio Damyanov in the Group A at the 60kg. The Croatian represented his nation at the European U17 Boxing Championships in Germany last December and he has the strong plan to compete in the European U19s in Loznica.
Kosovo’s Erjon Gashi was too smart for his teammate, Flodian Sumaj in the first round and his strength decided the final in Prishtina. Ensar Badallaj, another great Kosovan U19 pugilist, competed already in one of the European Championships during his career which was a decision making routine against Slovakia’s Kristian Bukovsky. Badallaj had the strong will to take the title on home soil and he gave in everything until his last drop of energy to make than happen.
Bulgaria’s Ivan Hristov won the Group A at the 65kg weight category after controlling his final bout over a local boy, Lindon Shala. The next top Bulgarian U19 boxer, Maksim Kirillov was the favourite of his group at the 70kg, but he had to do his very best and keep the focus until the last seconds against Riduan Gashi of Albania.
Bulgaria’s Ivaylo Kolev just missed the medal in the recent European U17 Boxing Championships where he lost his tight quarter-final bout. The Bulgarian ace joined the U19 age group this January and he increased his international routine at the Lah Nimani Tournament. Kolev landed a lethal punch in his final against Slovakia’s Samuel Greguska and he delivered a classic KO victory in the first round.
Croatia’s Juraj Turundic had a solid performance against Bulgaria’s Konstantin Damyanov and he achieved the gold medal at the busy 80kg. Croatia’s next flag bearer in the U19 team, Tomislav Japirko continued the nation’s strong commitment and tradition at the super heavyweight in Prishtina where he had a close success over Kosovo’s Luan Rrahmani.