He is a former European super lightweight and welterweight champion, and a multiple time world title challenger.

As an amateur, Urkal won the silver medal in the light welterweight division at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States.

His official results were: In the same year he captured the gold medal at the European Amateur Boxing Championships in Vejle, Denmark.

Urkal has fought for the world title three times losing to Kostya Tszyu and twice to Vivian Harris.

He won four straight after his defeat to Harris; this winning streak came to an end on 4 March 2007, when WBA Welterweight champion Miguel Cotto successfully defended his title when Urkal's corner threw in the towel after the referee deducted a second point for a headbutt, leading Urkal's corner to believe he was being unfair.