Aziz Salihu

Aziz Salihu (born May 1, 1954 in Bandulić near Priština , SFR Yugoslavia , today Kosovo ) is a former boxer. He represented Yugoslavia at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles , California , and won the bronze medal in the super heavyweight division. Salihu also took part in the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow and 1988 in Seoul , where he made it to the quarter-finals.

Career

Salihu started his career at the age of 15. For many Albanians he is still the “Sportsman of the Century”. Salihu won eight Yugoslav championship titles, five of them in a row.

Salihu had his first international appearance in 1976 in a match against a Cuban selection, in which he won against Luis Valier once and lost once.

At the European Championships in 1979 Salihu was eliminated in the round of 16 against Ferenc Somodi, Hungary (5-0), but was able to take part in the Olympic Games for the first time the following year , even if he was eliminated in the first fight against the later silver medalist Pyotr Sajew . At the European Championships in 1981 Salihu won the bronze medal. In the same year he also won the Balkan Championships, a title that he also won in 1982, 1983 and 1987.

In 1983 Salihu was eliminated in the quarter-finals of the European Championships against the later silver medalist Ulli Kaden , GDR (5-0). The following year he started at the Olympic Games and won the bronze medal after a quarter-final victory over Peter Hussing , Germany (3: 2), and a semi-final defeat against the eventual Olympic champion Tyrell Biggs , USA (5: 0).

At the European Championships in 1985 Salihu won the bronze medal again, losing in the semifinals to Ferenc Somodi, Hungary (5-0). The following year he also took part in the World Championships and was able to beat Somodi in the round of 16 this time (4: 1), but was then eliminated against the later silver medalist Alex Garcia , USA (RSC 2nd).

In 1987 Salihu retired early at the European Championships , but then won the Mediterranean Games in the same year . The following year he took part in the Olympic Games for the third time , but lost in the round of 16 against Ulli Kaden, GDR (5-0).

Salihu played his last international championships at the European Championships in 1989 , but retired here too, as in previous years. His opponent in the quarterfinals this time was Swilen Rusinow , Bulgaria (5-0).

Web links

• Albanian boxing
• Databaseolympics