Things you didn't know about Emin Atra
Londoner Anthony Yarde's (20-2, 19KOs) next fight was confirmed today, on April 14, against unbeaten German Emin Atra (17-0, 12 KOs) on the undercard of the Bentley-Cash event on Saturday, April 24 at York Hall in London, live on BT Sport.
Completely unknown to British fight fans, BBN immediately set about finding out a few facts about the 31-year-old coming to the UK for the first time as a fighter.
Emin Atra facts:
Born in Baghdad, Iraq on July 7, 1990, Emin Atra now lives in Germany's 18th largest city of Bielefield. Marked by war and persecution, Emin at just eight-years-old and his Iraqi family were forced to flee to Germany in 1996. The first central point of contact was the city of Halberstedt – near Magdeburg. From there, after many grueling months, via Schönebeck and Dortmund, they finally settled in Bielefeld, where the family still lives and feels at home.
Eldest brother Emin has three younger siblings – two sisters and one brother.
Young Emin faced many struggles as a foreigner in a new country and had to change schools twice. The young child was witness to an attack by right-wing extremists on his mother, which is what prompted his first decision to adopt a martial art in order to defend himself and the most important people around him.
He gained his first experience in martial arts at the age of eight in wrestling, and also trained in Kick boxing and Taekwondo.
His impressive record as an amateur was 42-1-3, 29KOs, training at Box Club "Forward Bielefeld".
He won the Multiple district, NRW & West German champion, as well as International German Champion in 2015, and the BDB German champions 2016.
He worked as an office clerk and trained as an accountant.
He is 1.83m tall.
His boxing alias is "EMKO".
Emin Atra won his professional debut in June 2015 against fellow debutant Besmir Plaku by TKO4. Atra was winning the first three rounds before he ended the pro bow in the last minute of the four-rounder.
Ahead of his eighth pro contest he changed trainers to Dimitri Kirnos, who previously trained the Klitschko brothers.
In his ninth contest, Atra became the German super-middleweight champion with a unanimous decision victory over Surik Donsdean (5-5-2, 4KOs).
After his crowning glory, Emin and his team were welcomed by Mayor Pit Clausen and bestowed the title of 'Ambassador for the City of Bielefeld'.
In his 10th fight, he had his first fight abroad in Turkey, defeating Bosnian boxer Aleksandar Kuvac (9-25) in the third round.
Anthony Yarde is only the third winning fighter Atra has come against during his approaching six-year pro career. He just about managed to secure a victory over the last one he faced in April 2019, winning a mixed decision against Levan Shonia (15-13, 11KOs).
His ambition is to become a world champion, stating "You need luck to play the lottery, but in the ring your fighter heart counts, your iron discipline and strict adherence to the trained tactics and fitness."
You can follow Emin"EmKo"Atra on Facebook HERE
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