Emil Zoraj

Emil Zoraj (born 27 July 1978) is a Croatian Light heavyweight kickboxer fighting out of Zagreb, Croatia. In his career he was double WKA thaiboxing world champion, It's Showtime 75MAX trophy Tilburg tournament champion, WBC Muaythai intercontinental champion and OPBU Euro-African muaythai champion.[1]

Emil Zoraj
BornEmil Zoraj
(1978-07-27) July 27, 1978
Other namesBulldog
Nationality Croatian
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight79 kg (174 lb; 12 st 6 lb)
DivisionLight heavyweight
StyleMuay Thai
TeamMejiro Gym (2001-2006)
Spartan Gym (2006-)
TrainerAndre Mannaart (2001-2006)
Aleksandar Pupac (2006-)
Years active1993-
Kickboxing record
Total46
Wins38
By knockout20
Losses8

Career

He started training in 1993 only kickboxing, but also tried Savate and Full Contact. He started Muay Thai when he came to train with Branko Cikatić, and did it until then. He achieved good results in amateur competition, European gold and silver medalist with two bronze medals on World championships. He scored few knockout wins, with Marko Žaja, in Italy.[2]

In 2001 he went in Netherlands to train with Andre Mannaart in Mejiro Gym. He made good progress, and participated in a gala tournament, scoring win over Sahin "Kaas" Yakut and losing in the final. He left Mejiro Gym after the rise of Remy Bonjasky, as he attracted all gym's attention.[2]

Emil Zoraj first attracted worldwide attention making It's Showtime debut, winning It's Showtime 75 MAX Trophy Tilburg Pool B on December 12, 2005 in Tilburg, Netherlands. He defeated two Dutch fighters, Rayen Simson in semi finals and Sem Braan in final and qualified for It's Showtime 75MAX Trophy Final 2006 tournament.[2]

On October 12, 2005 at Steko's Fight Night 17 he became World Kickboxing Association Thaiboxing world champion -83 kg defeating Jiri Bursa, next year also on Steko's Fight Night he won his third title and became World Kickboxing Association Thaiboxing world champion -76 kg defeating Adam Chajkin.[3]

On September 23, 2006 he participated in an It's Showtime 75MAX Trophy Final 2006 tournament in Rotterdam, losing in quarter finals to Joerie Mes.

He won his fourth and fifth title on April 20, 2008 in Vienna, Austria defeating Otta Merling and becoming WBC Muaythai International Super Middleweight and OPBU Euro-African Muaythai Champion. Zoraj took the initiative since first round, earning a knockdown in second round with right cross and leaving a visible mark on Merling's head with an elbow in third.[4][5]

He won bronze medal at IFMA 2009 World Muaythai Championships -75 kg category in December, 2009 defeating Remy Vectol in 1/8 finals and beating one of the best Muaythai fighters, Artem Levin bringing him one of very few career loses. He lost to tournament champion, Dmitry Valent by points, surviving nose injury in first round. He later suffered two amateur loses to Artem Levin.[6][7][8][9]

Since winning WBC Muaythai and OPBU titles, Zoraj scored valuable victory against Myauthai legend Kaoklai Kaennorsing in Brno, Czech Republic and fought mostly in his homeland Croatia until 2010 when decided to withdrew from the competition.[2][10]

He returned to the fighting on March 15, 2012 in Zagreb, Croatia at K-1 World Grand Prix 2012 Final, where he was expected to fight Miran Fabjan then Giannis Sofokleus, but both were replaced and he fought Edmond Paltatzis. Zoraj's comeback was tough as he survived two knockdowns in first round, but achieved victory at the end of second round with a knee to the body of Paltatzis.[11]

Later in the year he achieved victories at Final Fight Championship 4 over young Croatian prospect Zlatko Bajić and in Vienna on September 21, 2013 over Shkodran Veseli.[12][13][14]

Titles
  • 2008 WBC Muaythai International Super Middleweight (-76 kg/168 lb) Champion
  • 2008 OPBU Euro-African Muaythai Champion -76 kg
  • 2006 WKA Thaiboxing world champion -76 kg
  • 2005 WKA Thaiboxing world champion -83 kg
  • 2005 It's Showtime 75MAX Trophy Tilburg Pool B Champion
  • MTA European Champion
  • 3 x IMTA European Thaiboxing Champion

Fight record
Professional kickboxing record
DateResultOpponentEventLocationMethodRoundTime
2014-06-15Win Viktor ŠubićMuay Thai Gala[15]Zagreb, CroatiaDecision (unanimous)33:00
2013-09-21Win Shkodran VeseliFight NightVienna, AustriaDecision (split)33:00
2013-05-10Win Zlatko BajićFFC04: Perak vs. JoniZara, CroatiaDecision (unanimous)33:00
2013-03-15Win Edmond PaltatzisK-1 World Grand Prix 2012 Final, Super FightZagreb, CroatiaKO (knee)23:00
2010-04-10Win Miro SkribanReturn of the GladiatorsRagusa, CroatiaKO (liver kick)1
2010-02-07Win Nikola PetrovićBilić-Erić security FIGHT NIGHT IVZagreb, CroatiaDecision (unanimous)33:00
2009-12-23Win Stanisvav ŠahićNoć Boksa [16]Zara, CroatiaKO (knee)
2009-10-16Win Kaoklai KaennorsingReturn of the GladiatorsBrno, Czech RepublicDecision (Unanimous)33:00
2009Win Senol Kiziltas[17]TKO1
2008-05-24Loss Najim EttouhlaliGentleman Promotions FightnightTilburg, NetherlandsTKO
2008-05-20Win Aydin TuncayTrg u PlamenuZagreb, CroatiaTKO (left high kick)2
2008-04-20Win Otta MerlingFight Night - Mortel KombatVienna, AustriaDecision (Unanimous)53:00
Wins the WBC Muaythai International Super Middleweight (-76kg/168lb) Championship, and OPBU Euro-African Muaythai Championship.
2007-10-27Loss Tyrone SpongOne Night in BangkokAntwerp, BelgiumTKO (doctor stoppage)41:02
2006-09-23Loss Joerie MesIt's Showtime 75MAX Trophy Final 2006, Quarter FinalsRotterdam, NetherlandsDecision33:00
2006-05-02Win Adam ChajkinSteko's Fight Night 19KO3
Wins WKA Thaiboxing world title -76kg.
2006-03-18Win Kamil GregorczykSteko's Fight Night 18KO1
2005-10-22Loss Dmitry ShakutaSuperLeague Heavy Knockout 2005Vienna, AustriaDecision33:00
2005-10-12Win Jiri BursaSteko's Fight Night 174
Wins WKA Thaiboxing world title -83kg.
2005-10-02Win Sem BraanIt's Showtime 75MAX Trophy Tilburg, FinalTilburg, NetherlandsDecision33:00
Wins It's Showtime 75MAX Trophy Tilburg Pool B Final -75 kg. Qualifies for It's Showtime 75MAX Trophy Final 2006.
2005-10-02Win Rayen SimsonIt's Showtime 75 MAX Trophy Tilburg Pool B Semi FinalsTilburg, NetherlandsDecision (Unanimous)33:00
2004-03-06Loss Moussa SissokoKings of the RingPriština, Serbia and MontenegroTKO (ref. stoppage)3
For KOTR Muay Thai Championship 80kg.[18]
Amateur muaythai record
DateResultOpponentEventLocationMethodRoundTime
2013-07-25LossIFMA 2013 European Muaythai Championships 1/8 final(75 kg)Lisbon, PortugalDecision42:00
2010-08-29Loss Artem Levin2010 World Combat Games -75 kg Muay Thai, Quarter finalsBeijing, ChinaDecision (5:0)42:00
2010-05-26Loss Artem LevinIFMA 2010 European Muaythai Championships 1/8 final(75 kg)Velletri, ItalyDecision (5:0)42:00
2009-12-03Loss Dmitry ValentIFMA 2009 World Muaythai Championships 1/2 finals (75 kg)Bangkok, ThailandDecision42:00
2009-12-01Win Artem LevinIFMA 2009 World Muaythai Championships 1/4 finals (75 kg)Bangkok, ThailandDecision42:00
2009-11-11Win Remy VectolIFMA 2009 World Muaythai Championships 1/8 finals (75 kg)Bangkok, ThailandKO (Right high kick)2

Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

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See also

References
  1. Final Fight Profile
  2. "Emil Zoraj: Želim MMA borbu". fightsite.hr.
  3. Steko´s Fight Night - WKA-Weltmeisterschaft
  4. Emil proof his best over Otta Merling.
  5. Intervju: Emil Zoraj – novi WBC muaythai šampion u supersrednjoj kategoriji(in Croatian)
  6. Peking: Ikiću srebro u Ju-Jitsi!(in Croatian)
  7. Emil Zoraj brončani sa SP u Tajlandu(in Croatian)
  8. Zoraj u polufinalu Svjetskog prvenstva(in Croatian)
  9. Zoraj nokautirao Francuza, Mikulić ispala(in Croatian)
  10. Zoraj pobijedio Kaoklaia, Stanić odradio meč večeri(in Croatian)
  11. Mirko Filipović nadmudrio mladiće i osvojio K-1 World Grand Prix!(in Croatian)
  12. FFC 4: Perak soccer kickovima svladao Jonija, "Terror" izmlatio "Psihopatu"(in Croatian)
  13. Zoraj uoči meča : "Kako radi moj protivnik? Pa solidno, ali ne kao Emil Zoraj!"(in Croatian)
  14. Emil Zoraj porazio Veselog na bodove, Shkodran se nada nastupu u Hrvatskoj(in Croatian)
  15. Muay Thai Gala : Emil Zoraj porazio Viktora Šubića odlukom sudaca(in Croatian)
  16. “Noć boksa”: pet borbi, pet nokauta(in Croatian)
  17. Emil Zoraj Vs Senol Kiziltas
  18. KING OF THE RING WORLD TITLE (Kosovo)
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