Sumbu Kalambay

Sumbu Kalambay is a retired Congolese-born Italian professional boxer born on April 10, 1956. He is an exceptional boxer who became the WBA middleweight world champion between 1987 and 1988, with a total of 64 fights during his professional boxing career. Kalambay's career spanned over 12 years, from 1980 to 1993, with an impressive record of 57 wins, 6 losses, and 1 draw, including 33 knockout wins.

Kalambay first showed his abilities as a professional boxer on October 10, 1980, when he faced Esperno Postl in his debut fight, winning via 7th round TKO at 24 years of age. Despite not having a successful career as an amateur, Kalambay's drive and methods were apparent in his career as he progressed towards his championship title and his many victories.

During his professional career, Kalambay had fought against some of the best boxers in his weight class of Middleweight. He battled against Hall-of-Famer Mike McCallum, Doug DeWitt, Eddie Evans, Reggie Miller, Tony Powell, and Robbie Sims where he showcased his boxing skills and emerged victoriously. His most remarkable performance of his career was his defeat of Herol Graham via 12th round unanimous decision in May 1987 at The Arena, Wembley, London, where he won the European middleweight title.

Kalambay's biggest achievement was winning the vacant WBA (World Boxing Association) middleweight title on October 23, 1987, when he defeated Iran Barkley via a unanimous decision over fifteen rounds. Kalambay became a world champion at 31 years of age after 46 professional fights. It was almost 7 years since Kalambay started his boxing career, and his well-deserved victory earned him the right to be recognized as a top professional boxer in Middleweight.

Kalambay's win against Iran Barkley was just the start of his championship glory. He went on to defend his title three times. His first title defense was against Mike McCallum on March 5, 1988, where he won via 12 round unanimous decision. His star continued to shine in November 1988, where he had another successful title defense against Doug DeWitt, winning via 7th round TKO. However, his reign as WBA middleweight title champion came to a halt in April 1991, where Kalambay lost against McCallum in a close split decision. Kalambay's title defenses showcase his dominance as a boxing champion.

Kalambay had a total of six losses in his professional boxing career. Three of them were in title bouts, and three were not title bouts. While he suffered his first loss to Aldo Buzzetti via 8 round PTS on December 5, 1980, he was unbeaten for six consecutive years until he encountered his first title loss to McCallum. The only time Kalambay was knocked out was by IBF middleweight champion Michael Nunn in March 1989, where he suffered a first-round knockout with one punch.

Kalambay's last fight was on May 19, 1993, where he battled against Chris Pyatt in a middleweight fight for the vacant middleweight WBO title. Unfortunately, Kalambay lost the fight resulting in a 12-round unanimous decision. It's been 29 years, 10 months, and 12 days since his last professional battle, and Kalambay retired from professional boxing with an amazing record of 57-6-1, which included 33 knockout wins and one loss via knockout, one title win, and three title defenses.

Kalambay, during his professional career, had a total of 64 fights, with 57 wins, 1 draw, and 6 losses. Out of his 57 victories, 33 of them were knockout victories. He won one world title at middleweight and made three title defense. Kalambay, as an Italian professional boxer of Congolese origin, was one of the best boxers of his time, whose achievements and victories placed him among the all-time Middleweight greats.

After retiring from professional boxing, Sumbu Kalambay became a boxing trainer, coaching and mentoring many young boxers in his time. Among the boxers he coached was Michele Piccirillo and Paolo Vidoz.

Sumbu Kalambay Fight Record