Albania's Juergen Uldedaj defends his IBO cruiserweight championship against Australia's Blake Caparello in Tirana, Albania on October 23rd, presented by SES Boxing / Blanko Sports in association with Crown Boxing International. The show will be broadcast live on Digitalb and Klan Kosova, with international broadcast coverage around the world. The venue will be the Feti Borova Olympic Park in Tirana. Uldedaj (22-1) turned pro with SES Boxing in Germany in 2015. His journey ultimately took him to Manchester, UK where he defeated Rolly Lambert Fogoum to win the vacant IBO cruiserweight title in front of 10,000 boxing fans at the 02 Arena in London in October 2025. Uldedaj returned to the UK’s capital in May of this year to successfully defend his crown against Austine Nnamdi at Wembley Arena. Now, more than a decade after turning professional, he brings the title home to Albania.
Uldedaj said: “I’m 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 - this is my time, my territory and my title.“
A former IBO light heavyweight champion, this will not be the first time Caparello (34-4-1) has stood in the way of Albanian boxing ambitions. In 2014, the Australian defeated Elvir Muriqi in the United States. The experienced Caparello has shared the ring with elite world champions Sergey Kovalev and Andre Direll. Caparello said: “Congratulations, Champ, but he [Uldeddaj] hasn’t fought anyone of my caliber. I’ve been in the ring with world-class fighters and that experience is going to show come fight night. I won my first IBO title October 2013 and now 13 years later I’m going to claim my second. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in the gym, we will come out victorious on October 23rd.”
Brendan Bourke, Caparello’s manager, said: “I’d like to thank Blanko Sports and Crown Boxing International for putting this fight together, and also Blake’s promoter Joe DeGuardia from Star Boxing for being on board with the fight. Blake is ready, Juergen is a worthy champion - I’m looking forward to this fight!”
Caparello's promoter Joe DeGuardia, CEO of Star Boxing, said: “Blake is a former IBO light heavyweight 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 23rd.”
SES Boxing of Germany is headed by founder Ulf Steinforth and international boxing operator Benedikt Poelchau, after Poelchau’s 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.
Benedikt Poelchau, CEO of SES Boxing and Blanko Sports Holding, said: “This 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’s 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’m delighted that we were able to make this happen and I want to thank everyone involved - I’m looking forward to a fantastic night of boxing in Tirana“.
Ulf Steinforth, CEO of SES Boxing said: “We 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’s WBO Youth Title fight to Tirana and now he returns for the first time since - this time as the IBO World Champion. To see his journey is something special to me. Juergen has earned this moment. I’m excepting an exiting fight and I can’t wait for October 23rd in Tirana.“
