Agron Preteni is a Croatian Cruiserweight kickboxer.
Biography and career
Preteni is the best fighter in junior category in his Pit Bull gym but also in Croatia. He has won many international titles, in 2006 Agron was 3rd on W.A.K.O. Kickboxing world championship, low-kick rules in Zadar, Croatia, In 2007 W.A.K.O. European kickboxing champion in Portugal, then in 2008 W.A.K.O. world champion on world championship in Naples and in the same year 5th on world championship in boxing held in Mexico City, where according to many people he was better fighter, and undeservedly lost in quarter finals. 18 years old Agron also became world champion in savate held in Novi Sad, Serbia as super heavyweight, knocking out Serbian fighter Ivo Debelić in the finals as he was standing 2.03 m tall and 110 kg heavy. He was also successful as professional and senior amateur kickboxer. In 2010 he became K-1 Collizion Croatia champion, defeating much more experienced James Phillips in the finals. On the same year he participated W.A.K.O. senior European championship held in Loutraki, Greece, winning bronze medal. In 2011 he went to Dakar to fight Boubacar N'Diaye for W.F.K.B. K-1 rules world title. He won the title in round 2 due to injury, leg of Boubacar was broken while Agron blocked a kick. Both bones below the knee, fibula and tibia were broken. Preteni won silver medal on W.A.K.O. European Championships in -91 kg category held in Ankara, Turkey on November 2, 2012. He won silver medal beating one of the best Russian fighter Alexey Papin in the semi finals, then went to the finals with influenza and lost to best Serbian fighter and numerous W.A.K.O. champion Nenad Pagonis via unanimous decision. He defeated Andrei Stoica via unanimous decision in a non-tournament bout at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2012 Final in Zagreb, Croatia on March 15, 2013. The fight was all Stoica, until Preteni dropped him with a left hook early in the second round which earned an eight count and really turned the tide of the fight. Mladen Krajnčec, one of the judges said that this was hardest fight to judge and that K-1 rules clearly state that the one who is in a knockdown loses the fight. It was announced that Preteni will fight on March 23, 2013 at the Obračun u Ringu 11 event versus Zeki Tezer if he rehabilitates minor shoulder injuries suffered in fight against Andrei Stoica. If not he would be replaced by Toni Čatipović. However Preteni could not fight and as announced was replaced by teammate Čatipović. At the end of the fight Preteni gave him the winning trophy. He was also scheduled to fight Mamadou Keta at Final Fight 3: Jurković vs. Cătinaș in Split, Croatia on April 19, 2013 but because of same injury he had to cancel the fight. It was a replay of last years European championship as Preteni won silver medal on W.A.K.O. World Championships in -91 kg category also losing to Nenad Pagonis by unanimous decision. He rematched Andrei Stoica at Legend 2: Invasion in Moscow, Russia on November 9, 2013 in a reserve bout of Legend Fighting Show -95 kg tournament. Preteni took majority judges decision in a close fight with lots of strong kicks and punches which did not make lots of damage. As Zabit Samedov got injured Preteni advanced to the final where he faced veteran of the sport Pavel Zhuravlev. First round was equal but at the beginning of second Zhuravlev showed what's he made of and after two knockdowns gain TKO victory, title and cheque of $100,000. He was expected to face Luis Tavares for vacant International Kickboxing Association K1 rules heavyweight world championship at Kickboxing Elite promotion event in Las Vegas, Nevada on March 8, 2014. However Preteni was replaced with Hicham Achalhi because he couldn't get work permit.
