‘My dream is to become world champion’ - Andrea Cikalleshi targets legacy amid latest pro win

Cikalleshi, who was born in Italy, improved his professional record to 5-0 with a points victory over Michael Mooney last Saturday night.

The 24-year-old started his boxing journey after moving to England in 2020. He joined Wakefield Trinity Boxing Club and went on to have a short run in the amateur ranks.

After six successful fights, the Albanian boxer decided to go professional and has enjoyed a perfect start so far.

“My dream is to become a world champion,” Cikalleshi told Planet Sport.

“I want to build the legacy that I started. This is me, this is the story of Andrea Cikalleshi, an Albanian-Italian warrior.

“I’m very dedicated to put the work in. I don’t have parties, I don’t have fun, I don’t have anything else. I just work, boxing and rest. Same again the next day.”

Cikalleshi is currently balancing his professional boxing career with two other jobs. The super-lightweight contender works 60 hours away from the boxing gym, though he remains determined to turn his sporting ambitions into reality.

He added: “A lot of people right now are already world champions at my age, and I need to work 24 hours, seven days, to stay above them. They make me work more. I’m going to prove it. I’m going to become the best version of myself.

“I’m really excited about the upcoming days, upcoming month, upcoming years. But right now, the moment is now.

“I want to make people know who I am. That takes time and a lot of work. It will come. I just need to keep my current mindset and not let the scenes around me come around my mind.

“As long as I’m in the gym and I do what I have to do. As long as I’m at work and I do what I have to do. It keeps me away from the bad vibes.”

 

'Nothing is going to stop me'

When asked about motivation and what keeps him going as a professional athlete, Cikalleshi underlined two things.

“Legacy and family,” he said. “I built this, I started this. Nobody from my family members in the past years became a professional athlete or put the work into sport.

“It was different times, but I’m me. I have my story. Who I am today is because of my journey, my failing and my winnings. But I did this, I built this, brick by brick. So I’m going to finish this. I’m looking forward to the future.

“I want to build my legacy in a good way, and make my family proud, put them in a good position. That’s it. 

“It’s not about money for me. It’s about a name. I want to be in the books. Remembered. Hall of fame. Like all the professional athletes did.

“I know they put in the work. But I’m going to work double, triple times that they did. It’s a good challenge, that’s why nothing is going to stop me from that.”