Azem Maksutaj

Azem Maksutaj (born July 8, 1975 in Dečani , SFR Yugoslavia , today Kosovo ) is a Swiss Thai boxer of Kosovar -Albanian descent who lives in Winterthur .

Life

Moved to Winterthur, Azem Maksutaj took part in a Thai boxing training for the first time at the age of 15. In 1992, at the age of 16, he became Swiss champion against Jesu Perez . In 1994, at the age of 18, he fought for the European title against Tom Rasmussen , who was classified as a very strong Thai boxer. At the age of 19, Azem won the 1994 world title against Sergio Bertalozzi. On March 19, 1995, he lost his world title to Peri Ubeda . On November 2, 1996 he regained the title against Faisal Reding. 1997 Peter Klee was his opponent in Milan and Aurélien Duarte in France . On November 7, 1998, Azem successfully defended his ISKA World Championship title against Sissoko (France) (knockout in the 3rd round). On February 27, 1999 he fought against Maleve Manhoff in Pavia (I). He won the fourth and last WPKL world title on December 11, 1999 in Bosnia.

On April 13, 2005, Azem Maksutaj lost a fight against Ruslan Karajew at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas . Since October 2006 Azem has been trained by the successful Thai Muay Thai trainer Jun Ruangram Tanomsak.

Azem Maksutaj married his long-time girlfriend on February 23, 2007 in his homeland. In spring 2010, the film about Azem Maksutaj's life was released in Swiss cinemas. The film is called Being Azem and was financially supported by the Swiss Film Fund. Maksutaj runs the martial arts school Wing Thai Gym in Winterthur . In summer 2019, Azem Maksutaj and his business partner Daniel Adam Beadini opened the Daniel Beadini Gym in Wil, where, in addition to kickboxing, free fighting and wrestling are now being trained.

successes

• 92 fights
• 72 wins
• 18 defeats
• 2 draws
• 58 K. o.

title

• WMTA 1994–1995 world champion
• ISKA World Champion 1996
• WKA World Champion 1999
• WAKO-Pro World Champion 1999
• WPKL World Champion 1999
• World champion in super heavyweight WMTA since December 13, 2003
• In the Super Light Heavyweight 79.0 - 83.0 kg he was Swiss champion 1993-2001 and European champion 1995-2001
• In the cruiserweight 83.0 - 86.0 kg he was world champion in the following associations WMTA 2001 since March 24, 2001
• World champion in the following associations WMTA 2001 since March 24, 2001
• WPKC 2001 since November 25, 2000
• Heavyweight World Champion 2001

• K1-Fight Night Winner 1999 and 2000
• K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Preliminary Marseilles finalist

Filmography

• 2010 Being Azem , CH, 90 min.

Web links

• Azem Maksutaj in the Internet Movie Database (English)
• Official homepage of Azem Maksutaj
• Fighter profile on K-1sport.de
• Image by Azem Maksutaj