Berlin, Germany (March 19, 2024) - On April 13, heavyweight boxing fans will witness an intriguing showdown as unbeaten prospects Granit Shala and Oleksandr Zakhozhyi collide for the vacant European title at the AGON Sportpark, Charlottenburg, Berlin, Germany.

Shala, boasting an unblemished record of 15 wins with 5 knockouts, embarked on his professional journey in 2017 in Germany. The 27-year-old has steadily climbed the ranks, facing progressively tougher opponents along the way. Notable victories include a unanimous decision win over Zine Eddine Benmakhlouf and a recent sixth-round TKO triumph over Argentine fighter Jorge Alejandro Arias.

In the opposite corner stands Zakhozhyi, a Ukrainian powerhouse with a perfect record of 18 wins, 14 of which came by knockout. Despite making his debut in 2017, the 30-year-old has predominantly fought overseas, showcasing his skills against notable opponents like Kevin Johnson, Pavel Sour, and Evgenios Lazaridis.

The European heavyweight title has seen limited action in recent years, failing to attract contenders as desired by the sanctioning body. Since Joe Joyce's impressive victory over Daniel Dubois in November 2020, the title has been contested only twice. Agit Kabayel briefly held the title before regaining it with a thrilling comeback victory over Agron Smakici in March 2023.

The journey to fill the vacant European title has been tumultuous, marked by several changes and pullouts. Initially, Tom Schwarz was slated to challenge Kabayel, but the German opted for a different direction. Ryad Merhy was then set to face Schwarz before changes led to a matchup with Dubois, which never materialized. Ultimately, Shala and Zakhozhyi emerged as the European contenders to vie for the title.