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 ofWarszawa, 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 mixed martial artist and former professional boxer and kickboxer. He is a graduate of the Jędrzej Śniadecki University School of Physical Education and Sport in Gdańsk.

Early life[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Early career[edit]

On 16 October 2010, he made his professional debut as a boxer in Legionowo, beating Igoris Papunia from Lithuania by first-round knockout.[4] He fought his second professional fight on 20 November 2010, in a show in Nysa, during which he defeated Pavel Habra by technical KO in the first round. Ugonoh's first fight of 2011 was against Rad Rashid on the 2 April. Ugonoh won the bout by unanimous decision over four rounds. Ugonoh went on to gain five stoppage wins by the end of 2012. He fought once in 2013, defeating Lukasz Rusiewicz by unanimous decision in a six-round bout. In 2014, Ugonoh started training under Kevin Barry while being signed to Duco Events,[5] and became a regular sparring partner for 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.[7] Ugonoh won the bout by second-round knockout. He went on to gain wins over Julius Long[8] and Will Quarrie[9] before facing Ibrahim Labaran for the interim WBA Oceania and WBO Africa heavyweight titles.[10] Ugonoh won the fight by first-round knockout. He also got a first-round knockout win against Vicente Sandez in December 2015.[11] Ugonoh's first fight of 2016 was against Ricardo Humberto Ramirez, which he won by knockout in the fourth round.[12] Ugonoh next fought on the 1 October, knocking out Gregory Tony in two rounds to pick up the vacant IBF Mediterranean heavyweight title.[13] In December 2016, Ugonoh left his promoter Duco Events 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[edit]

On the 25 February 2017, Ugonoh faced former world title challenger Dominic Breazeale on the under card of Deontay Wilder vs Gerald Washington, in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Breazeale was ranked #11 by the WBC at heavyweight at the time.[16] Ugonoh was ranked 7th in WBO[17] and 9th in IBF.[18] In a back and forth fight which saw both men hit the canvas, Breazeale came out on top after he dropped Ugonoh through the ropes in the fifth round. The fights' third round won the round of the year from The Ring Magazine. This was the last fight Ugonoh fought under his trainer Kevin Barry.

Career from 2018[edit]

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

Ugonoh vs. Kassi[edit]

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[edit]

Professional boxing record[edit]

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 Trusts Stadium, 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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

References[edit]

  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[edit]

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
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