Germany´s Shefat Isufi is the new World Boxing Federation (WBF) World Light Heavyweight Champion, after winning the vacant title on Saturday, April 16, at the Infinity Hotel in his hometown Munich.
Originally set to face former IBF World Champion Alejandro Berrio, Isufi instead took on tough and on-form replacement Grigor Saruhanian from Bulgaria, who entered the fight undefeated in his last fifteen outings.
Isufi broke that streak by attempting to take control from the start, but Saruhanian was game and never stopped fighting his chance.
But, after twelve rounds of boxing it was clear that the local favorite had done enough to win, getting the unanimous verdict from judges Goran Filipovic (117-111), Rustam Rahimov (117-111) and Adrian Laschescu (117-112).
The new champion, who lost his first shot at world honors in 2019 when he was out-pointed by Englishman Billy Joe Saunders for the WBO Super Middleweight crown, improved his professional record to 34-4-2 (24).
Armenian-born Saruhanian drops to 16-6-1 (8), losing for the first time since October of 2018.
The fight headlined a show promoted by former Heavyweight contender Alexander Petkovic.
Isufi vs. Berrio For WBF World Light Heavyweight Crown In Munich, GER
On April 16 in Munich, Germany, World Boxing Federation (WBF) Intercontinental titlist Shefat Isufi will face former IBF World champion Alejandro Berrio for the vacant WBF World Light Heavyweight title.
Isufi, 33-4-2 (24), became WBF Intercontinental champion last September when he defeated Czech warrior Tomas Adamek, and is now ready for what will be his second world title opportunity.
In 2019 the Serbian-born German lost a decision to Billy Joe Saunders for the WBO World Super Middleweight title, but has rebounded with six straight victories to line up a second chance at Light Heavyweight.
On a previous visit to Germany, Alejandro “Naco” Berrio, 39-10 (33), won the IBF World Super Middleweight crown in 2007, stopping Robert Stieglitz in three rounds.
He lost the title seven months later to Lucien Bute in front of over thirteen thousand spectators in Montreal, Canada.
It will be the hard-punching Colombian veterans first world title fight since then, so he will undoubtedly be looking to make the most of it.
The fight, expected to be an explosive affair, will headline a show promoted by Petkos Boxing.