Izu Ugonoh

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Izu Ugonoh
Born (1986-11-02) 2 November 1986 (age 37)
Szczecin, Poland
NationalityPolish-Nigerian
Height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight232.1 lb (105.3 kg; 16.58 st)
Division
Reach84 in (213 cm)
StyleBoxing
Fighting out of
Warszawa, Poland
TeamBerkut WCA Fight Team
Years active
  • 2010–2019 (boxing)
  • 2020–present (MMA)
Professional boxing record
Total20
Wins18
By knockout15
Losses2
Mixed martial arts record
Total3
Wins1
By knockout1
Losses2
By knockout2
Other information
Boxing record from BoxRec
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Izuagbe Ugonoh (born 2 November 1986) is a Polish

kickboxer. He is a graduate of the Jędrzej Śniadecki University School of Physical Education and Sport in Gdańsk
.

Early life

Izuagbe was born to Nigerian parents in the Polish city of Szczecin. He graduated from the Jędrzej Śniadecki University School of Physical Educations and Sport in Gdańsk.

Kickboxing career

He trained kick boxing at Gdańsk club GKSK Corpus. Due to his similarity in appearance and fighting style he is sometimes called the Polish Remy Bonjasky. He has also been inspired by Gökhan Saki.[citation needed]

In 2009, in the Austrian city of Villach, he won the Kickboxing World Championships gold medal in K-1 Rules to 91 kg, defeating Vladimir Mineev.[1] In 2010, he became European champion in the same formula in Baku. He met the local Zamig Athakishiyev in the final.[2][3]

Professional boxing career

Early career

On 16 October 2010, he made his professional debut as a boxer in

Joseph Parker.[6]
Ugonoh also fought once in 2014 knocking out Junior Maletino Lakopo in two rounds.

Ugonoh next fought on the 5 March 2015, against Thomas Peato.

David Higgins after being with them for two years.[14] Ugonoh shortly signed with Al Haymon after his departure from Duco.[15]

Ugonoh vs. Breazeale

On the 25 February 2017, Ugonoh faced former world title challenger

The Ring Magazine. This was the last fight Ugonoh fought under his trainer Kevin Barry
.

Career from 2018

After losing to Breazeale in 2017, Ugonoh next returned to the ring on the 25 May 2018.

Ugonoh vs. Kassi

Ugonoh faced Fred Kassi in a ten-round bout, winning the fight by stoppage after Kassi was retired on his stool at the end of the second round.[19]

Professional boxing titles

Professional boxing record

20 fights 18 wins 2 losses
By knockout 15 2
By decision 3 0
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
20 Loss 18–2 Łukasz Różański KO 4 (10), 2:27 6 Jul 2019 Stadion Miejski, Rzeszów, Poland
19 Win 18–1 Fred Kassi RTD 2 (10), 3:00 25 May 2018 Stadion Narodowy, Warsaw, Poland
18 Loss 17–1 Dominic Breazeale TKO 5 (10), 0:50 25 Feb 2017 Legacy Arena, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
17 Win 17–0 Grégory Tony TKO 2 (10), 2:26 01 Oct 2016 Vodafone Events Centre, Auckland, New Zealand Won vacant IBF Mediterranean heavyweight title
16 Win 16–0 Ricardo Humberto Ramírez KO 4 (10), 1:47 21 Jul 2016
Horncastle Arena, Christchurch
, New Zealand
Retained WBO Africa heavyweight title
15 Win 15–0 Vicente Sandez KO 1 (10), 1:11 05 Dec 2015
Claudelands Arena, Hamilton
, New Zealand
Retained interim WBO Africa heavyweight title
14 Win 14–0 Ibrahim Labaran TKO 1 (10), 2:38 15 Oct 2015 Trusts Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand Won interim WBA Oceania & WBO Africa heavyweight titles
13 Win 13–0 Will Quarrie KO 2 (10), 2:14 01 Aug 2015
Stadium Southland, Invercargill
, New Zealand
12 Win 12–0 Julius Long UD 8 13 Jun 2015
Arena Manawatu, Palmerston North
, New Zealand
11 Win 11–0 Thomas Peato TKO 2 (6), 1:15 05 Mar 2015
Vodafone Events Centre
, Auckland, New Zealand
10 Win 10–0 Junior Maletino Iakopo TKO 2 (6), 1:04 16 Oct 2014
Auckland
, New Zealand
9 Win 9–0 Lukasz Rusiewicz UD 6 23 Feb 2013 Ergo Arena, Gdańsk, Poland
8 Win 8–0 Mathieu Monnier TKO 5 (6) 08 Dec 2012 Spodek, Katowice, Poland
7 Win 7–0 Björn Blaschke TKO 6 (6), 1:05 17 Mar 2012 MOSiR Ice Rink, Krynica-Zdrój, Poland
6 Win 6–0 Florians Strupits TKO 1 (6), 1:50 03 Dec 2011 Hilton Warsaw Hotel, Warsaw, Poland
5 Win 5–0 Fatih Ceyhan RTD 3 (4), 3:00 12 Nov 2011
Gdynia Sports Arena, Gdynia
, Poland
4 Win 4–0 Patrick Berger TKO 2 (4), 2:08 15 Oct 2011 Spodek, Katowice, Poland
3 Win 3–0 Rashid Raad UD 4 02 Apr 2011 Łuczniczka, Bydgoszcz, Poland
2 Win 2–0 Pavel Habr TKO 1 (4), 2:47 20 Nov 2010 AZS PWSZ Nysa, Nysa, Poland
1 Win 1–0 Igor Papunia KO 1 (4), 1:29 16 Oct 2010
Arena Legionowo, Legionowo
, Poland

Mixed martial arts career

On July 11, 2020, news surfaced that Ugonoh transitioned from boxing to mixed martial arts and had signed a contract with Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki. He made his mixed martial arts debut at KSW 54 on August 29, 2020.[20] In his first fight he defeated Quentin Domingos.

Ugonoh was scheduled to make his sophomore MMA appearance against the undefeated heavyweight prospect Thomas Narmo at KSW 60,[21] but Narmo was forced off the card on March 6 with an rib injury. The undeafeated German Uğur Özkaplan served as Narmo's replacement.[22] In turn, Özkaplan was replaced by Marek Samociuk.[23] He lost the bout via TKO in the second round after gassing in the first round.[24]

Ugonoh rematched with Marek Samociuk at KSW 70 on May 28, 2022. He lost the bout again, losing via TKO stoppage due to ground and pound in the first round.[25]

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
3 matches 1 win 2 losses
By knockout 1 2
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 1–2 Marek Samociuk TKO (punches) KSW 70: Pudzianowski vs. Materla May 28, 2022 1 3:38 Łódź, Poland
Loss 1–1 Marek Samociuk TKO (punches) KSW 60: De Fries vs. Narkun 2 April 24, 2021 2 0:27 Łódź, Poland
Win 1–0 Quentin Domingos TKO (leg injury) KSW 54: Gamrot vs. Ziółkowski August 29, 2020 1 2:22 Warsaw, Poland

[26]

Personal life

Ugonoh also played a wrestling cameo in the Polish movie Afonia and the bees (2009) directed by Jan Jakub Kolski.

He calls himself a "black Pole" and says that he proudly represents Poland on the international arena. He often jokes that when he looks into a mirror, he "doesn't know what happened", referring to his skin color as atypical for ethnic Poles, a white ethnic group.[27]

His sister, Osuenhe "Osi" Ugonoh, works as a professional model, and is known for winning Poland's 4th edition of Top Model reality television series in 2014.[28]

See also

References

  1. ^ "World Light Contact, Low Kick, K -1 Villach, Austria 19-26.10.2009 Rules". Polish Association of Kickboxing. Retrieved 26 November 2010.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ "Bałanda and European champions Ugonoh". trojmiasto.pl. Retrieved 26 November 2010.
  3. ^ "Description of the championship fights Izu website GKSK Corpus". gkskcorpus.pl. Archived from the original on 20 June 2010. Retrieved 26 November 2010.
  4. ^ "Impressive victory 'Izu' in debut". ringpolska.pl. Retrieved 26 November 2010.
  5. ^ DUNCAN JOHNSTONE. "Boxer Izuagbe Ugonoh wants Pole position". Stuff NZ. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  6. ^ DUNCAN JOHNSTONE. "New Zealand heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker takes his fitness to a new level". Stuff NZ. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  7. ^ Patrick McKendry. "Boxing: Parker too powerful for Pettaway". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  8. ^ George Heagney. "Joseph Parker knocks out opponent Yakup Saglam in two rounds in Palmerston North". Stuff NZ. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  9. ^ Logan Savory. "Novice boxer Kaleni Taetuli floors Brown Buttabean to earn knockout bonus". Stuff NZ. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  10. ^ Duncan Johnstone. "Willis Meehan wins in controversial one-sided boxing bout". Stuff NZ. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  11. ^ "Video highlights: Ugonoh drops Sandez for KO win - Fight for Life". Newshub. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  12. ^ Chris Barclay. "Christchurch's Bowyn Morgan suffers first professional boxing defeat". Stuff NZ. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  13. ^ "New Zealand heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker up to No 5 in WBO rankings". Stuff NZ. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  14. ^ DUNCAN JOHNSTONE. "Joseph Parker's stablemate Izu Ugonoh leaves for his own challenge". Stuff NZ. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  15. ^ BRYCE WILSON. "Izu Ugonoh Explains His Decision To Sign on With Al Haymon". Boxing Scene. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  16. ^ "Breazeale vs Ugonoh - News, Tape, Ringwalk, TV, Streaming & Tickets". Box.Live. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  17. ^ "WBO February 2017 rankings" (PDF). WBO. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  18. ^ "IBF January 2017 rankings". IBF. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  19. ^ "BoxRec: Login". boxrec.com. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  20. ^ Tudor Leonte (12 July 2020). "KSW Signs Former Pro Boxing Heavyweight Champion Izu Ugonoh". sherdog.com.
  21. ^ Sporty walki. "Izu Ugonoh - Thomas Narmo: Pierwsze spotkanie twarzą w twarz". polsatsport.pl. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  22. ^ "KSW 60: Izu Ugonoh with a new rival. Thomas Narmo injury". polsatsport.pl. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  23. ^ Grabosz, Rafał (20 April 2021). "Zwycięzca turnieju walk na gołe pięści nowym rywalem Izu Ugonoha na KSW 60 | MMAROCKS". MMA Rocks! (in Polish). Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  24. ^ Staff (24 April 2021). "KSW 60: De Fries vs. Narkun Results". Cageside Press. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  25. ^ "KSW 70: Samociuk pokonał Ugonoha po raz drugi". www.polsatsport.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  26. ^ Sherdog.com. "IZUAGBE". Sherdog. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  27. ^ "Ugonoh: Z dumą reprezentuję Polskę". sport.dziennik.pl. 24 March 2010.
  28. ^ "Osi Ugonoh wygrała 4. edycję "Top Model"!". TVN (Polish TV channel) (in Polish). 24 November 2014. Archived from the original on 17 June 2018.

External links

Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Joseph Parker
WBA Oceania heavyweight champion
interim title

15 October 2015 – April 2016
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Junlong Zhang
Vacant
Title last held by
Joseph Parker
WBO
Africa heavyweight champion

15 October 2015 – July 2016
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Ebenezer Tetteh
Vacant
Title last held by
Cyril Leonet
IBF Mediterranean heavyweight champion
1 October 2016 – present
Incumbent
Awards
Previous:
Skender Halili vs.
Jason Thompson
Round 2
The Ring Round of the Year
vs. Dominic Breazeale
Round 3

2017
Incumbent