14 years without the boxing legend Dhori Gërnjoti!

The legend and former boxer from Korça, Dhori Gërnjoti, passed away on May 18, 2010, at the age of 67 after a serious illness. A renowned figure in Albanian boxing, Dhori began boxing at the age of 14 in a youth team established by his father.

His first match took place in 1958 when he was only 15, and he lost to the Shkodran boxer Viktor Martini. However, this would be his first and last defeat. In 1959, Dhori and his brother were crowned champions of the First Spartakiad in Tirana, and in 1960, Dhori secured first place in his group at the national youth championship. Two years later, in 1962, he won the national championship for adults, defeating the famous boxer Daniel Vida in the final.

Dhori Gërnjoti’s brilliant boxing career and dreams were cut short in 1962 when he attempted to escape to Greece with three friends but was caught, leading to a harrowing experience in the prisons of the communist regime.

He was sentenced to 18 years in prison for treason against the homeland due to his attempted escape and served his sentence in Burrel prison. He attempted to escape again with some friends but could only breach the prison perimeter before being stopped by gunfire from the guards. In 1967, he was tried again and sentenced to death by firing squad, but this was later commuted to 25 years in prison. After serving 20 years, Dhori Gërnjoti was released in 1987.

In the early 1990s, he returned to the ring alongside the esteemed Ahmet Golemi in a symbolic match in the city of Korça, delivering unforgettable emotions to all fans and marking the revival of boxing in Albania.

EDITED by:

“KORÇA BOOM”