Robin Krasniqi

Haxhi Krasniqi (born 1 April 1987), known as Robin Krasniqi, is a Kosovan-born German professional boxer. He is the first person born in Kosovo to be a professional world boxing champion having held the IBO and interim WBA light-heavyweight titles from 2020 to 2021. Krasniqi also held the European super-middleweight title from 2018 to 2019.

Background Krasniqi was born in Junik, Kosovo, but moved with his family to Munich, Germany, at a young age during the Kosovo War.

Professional career Krasniqi made his professional debut on 20 October 2005, losing to Sven Haselhuhn in a four-round points decision. In his third fight, on 5 January 2006, he lost another four-round decision to Adrian Cerneaga. Krasniqi would spend the next seven years undefeated, winning two regional WBO light-heavyweight titles.

On 20 April 2013, he made his first attempt at a world title, losing by unanimous decision to WBO light-heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly.

A second opportunity at a world title came on 21 March 2015, this time against WBA light-heavyweight champion Jürgen Brähmer, who stopped Krasniqi in nine rounds.

Krasniqi won the vacant European super-middleweight title on 2 June 2018, defeating Stanyslav Kashtanov at Weaarena in Bad Tölz by unanimous decision.

He retained the title with a unanimous decision win over Ronny Landaeta at Anhalt Arena in Dessau-Roßlau on 17 November 2018, before losing the championship to Stefan Härtel by unanimous decision at Stadthalle in Magdeburg on 11 May 2019.

On 10 October 2020, at GETEC Arena in Magdeburg, Krasniqi became the first boxer born in Kosovo to be a professional world champion when he won the WBA interim and IBO light-heavyweight titles by scoring a third-round knockout against Dominic Boesel.

Almost exactly a year later, on 9 October 2021, he lost the IBO title in a rematch with Boesel at the same venue, going down to a split decision defeat.

Professional boxing record