Kreshnik Qato's Biography!

Like many before him, Qato laced up the gloves at a young age. He started his career with the youth team of Durres city and his first coach was Hekuran Shkaba. In 1992 he participated for the first time in the National Championship for youngsters where he won the title as Country Champion.

He completed his high school studies over the years 1993 – 1997 at the school of sports mastery “Benardina Qeraxhiu” in Durres. Under the personal care of coach Dylaver Coba during those four years of high school he had 18 matches, all won by Qato. In the National championship for adults he participated for the first time in 1996 where he was announced as as the most fervent boxer of the activity. After completing high studies he committed himself to boxing and very soon became part of the Albanian representig team.

In the international area Qato was present for the first time in 1997 representing Albania in the annual tour “Golden Glove” in Beograd. Where he won all matches thus being announced Balkans Champion for weights 67 – 71 kg. This activity was a double victory for him and Albania. Albania won its first medal in an international boxing activity for amateurs.

He attended academic studies during years 1997 – 2000 at the Academy of Physical Education “Vojo Kushi” in Tirana, boxing branch. In 2000 he was chosen as candidate to represent Albania at the Olympic Games to be held in Sidney Australia.

Today, Kreshnik Qato is the rising star in the professional ring. This growing natural talent was discovered by mere chance by Luigi Leo, a well respected and recognized professional trainer, while representing his native country, Albania, at the Olympic qualification games of Sydney, back in the year 2000.

Soon after his first meeting with Luigi Leo, who has been his professional training manager ever since, Kreshnik decided to come and train and live in London., Here, he has become a name to be reckoned with in the international boxing arena.

His persistence to fight for his country's colors has earned him a large team of strong followers and the wonderful supportive atmosphere they generate following his every entire duel. Kreshnik is Albania's first and only window to the world of professional boxing concomitantly he is their first and only WORLD CHAMPION hero.

Qato has set a triumphing example for the rest of Albania 's youth who aspire to become professional boxers. His sporting fortitude has become an idol for the young Albanian generations growing in London today. As their World Champ Hero he is well respected and received not only by a wide range of community members and compatriots here in London, but also across United Kingdom. His hard determined training and psychological strength has earned him five international belts.

On 16 October 2004 in Jalta, Ukraine after a spectacular match he defeated in the ring the well know Russian champion Vladimir Zagorodniv and won the title as Champion for Eastern Europe (EEBA).

On 5 March 2005 in his birth town Durres, after 12 rounds of boxing fight against the Ukrainian Rizvan Magomedov he won the International Boxing Council Title (IBC).

On 8 December 2006 in Dagenham, London, he won the Southern Area Super-Middle-Weight Title. It was a 10 rounds fight against Simone Cuver.

On 3rd March 2007 in Tirana, Albania Qato went through a twelv rounds fight ageinst the Rusian Aleksander Zaitsev and won by points the EE-EBU Europian Title.

On 4th April 2008 Qato received his first world title shot against the portuges Vitor Sa(13-3). Qato dominated the bout and captured his first WBF Midleweight World Title.

However he have never at any moment been short of Albanian supporters and well-wishers of the sport of boxing like Ylli Ndroqi the president of YLDONsh.p.k who is at present his official sponsor.