On November 14, Roman Fress and Amend Xhoxhaj will face off for the third time. At the SES Boxing Gala in the Magdeburg Exhibition Hall, the two cruiserweights aim to settle once and for all who is truly the better fighter.
The big finale is coming up for Roman Fress and Amend Xhoxhaj. The two cruiserweights will face off for the third time in a WBO title bout. Xhoxhaj won their first bout in April 2022 by split decision, while the second ended in a controversial draw in May of this year. On November 14, at the SES Boxing Gala in the Magdeburg Exhibition Hall, the question will be: Who is truly the better fighter?
“Armend is a great athlete, a tough fighter—he achieves a lot through sheer willpower,” Fress said at the press conference in Magdeburg. “But in terms of boxing and technique, he’s no match for me, and I will and must take advantage of that.” Xhoxhaj countered: “Roman may be a good athlete, a good guy. But right now, I only see him as a sparring partner!”
Roman Fress (23-1-1, 13 KOs) is currently the No. 1 contender in the WBO cruiserweight rankings and brings his Intercontinental championship belt to the final showdown. The SES boxer recently parted ways with his longtime trainer, Robert Stieglitz, and moved to Berlin to train with Georg Bramowski. “I was actually there for their second bout at the Magdeburg Exhibition Center, and to me, it was a clear draw,” explained Fress’s new trainer. “We’ve only been working together for a little over five weeks now, so we’re just looking ahead!”
“Everyone wants a final decision”
Armend Xhoxhaj (23-4-1, 12 KOs), ranked No. 11 by the WBO and the organization’s reigning European champion, also boxes for the SES stable. “I don’t look back—I look ahead,” said Xhoxhaj’s coach, Mete Alijaj. “Both fighters put on a great fight. I expect the same from this third bout—they should thrill the fans!” SES promoter Ulf Steinforth is also already eagerly anticipating the third Fress vs. Xhoxhaj bout. “On November 14, we all want the final decision. The ‘grand finale’ is set to make the Magdeburg Exhibition Center shake once again and thrill the crowd!”
Tatjana Genrich’s professional debut is also sure to draw a lot of attention. The 33-year-old model will step into the ring for the first time alongside her coach, Dirk Dzemski. The former “Miss Germany” is scheduled to compete in a four-round bout in the atomweight division. “I’ve been very involved in boxing over the past few years, and now my dream is coming true,” said Genrich.
The SES Box Gala will be broadcast by MDR on November 11. It will also be available via livestream on the ARD media library and at sportschau.de.
Text: Frank Schwantes