Zack Mwekassa

Last updated
Zack Mwekassa
Born (1984-01-20) 20 January 1984 (age 39)
Kinshasa, DR Congo
Other namesThe Black Panther, Le Guerrier Noir (The Black Warrior)
Nationality DR Congolese
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight95 kg (209 lb; 14 st 13 lb)
Division Cruiserweight (boxing)
Heavyweight (kickboxing)
Style Boxing
Fighting out of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Years active2006 – present (boxing)
2014 – present (kickboxing)
Professional boxing record
Total19
Wins15
By knockout14
Losses4
By knockout3
Draws0
Kickboxing record
Total19
Wins15
By knockout13
Losses4
By knockout2
Draws0
Other information
Boxing record from BoxRec
Last updated on: 19 September 2015

Zack Mwekassa (born 20 January 1984) is a Congolese boxer and kickboxer who fights in GLORY. He is a former Interim Glory Light Heavyweight Champion.

Contents

As of 1 October 2017, he is ranked the #4 light-heavyweight in the world by CombatPress.com. [1]

Biography

Mwekassa is the son of a chemist and his two brothers are lawyers. In addition to his fighting career, he is trained as a computer network engineer. He and his family were displaced from their native DR Congo during the Second Congo War that began in 1998. [2]

Career

Boxing

Mwekassa began his professional boxing career at the age of 22 in 2006 in South Africa. In the first 2 years of his career, he amassed an undefeated streak of 8-0 with all but one of the wins coming by way of TKO or KO. He experienced his first losses back-to-back in 2008 and 2009, before going on another 5-0 undefeated streak.

Kickboxing

Mwekassa began training in South Africa in 2003 with elite kickboxers, including the late Mike Bernardo. [2] His trainers intended him for the K-1 circuit but the opportunities were scarce, so he moved into professional boxing in 2006.

In 2014, Mwekassa resurrected his interest in kickboxing. He saw GLORY on television [2] and approached the company about fighting for them. He soon found himself scheduled to face popular MMA and kickboxing fighter Pat Barry at Glory 16: Denver. [2] In what many considered a shocking upset, he knocked out Barry with an incredible uppercut in the first round.

Mwekassa returned to the Glory ring on November 7, 2014 at Glory 18: Oklahoma. [3] He was part of a four-man, one-night tournament to decide the next Light Heavyweight title contender. Mwekassa started in impressive fashion as he knocked out Brian Collette in the semifinals. In the finals, he faced Saulo Cavalari. After a competitive back-and-forth two rounds, Mwekassa lost in the third round due to a head kick. [4]

Mwekassa had a rematch with Cavalari for the vacant Glory Light Heavyweight Championship at Bellator MMA & Glory: Dynamite 1 on September 19, 2015. [5] He lost the fight via majority decision.

He fought Mourad Bouzidi for the interim Glory Light Heavyweight title. [6] He defeated Bouzidi by a first round TKO. [7] Mwekassa fought the reigning Glory champion Artem Vakhitov during Glory 35, losing by TKO in the third round. [8]

Titles

Professional boxing record

19 fights15 wins4 losses
By knockout143
By decision01
By disqualification10
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
19Win15–4 Flag of Kenya.svg Bernard AdieTKO7 (12)28 Jun 2014 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Grand Hôtel, Kinshasa, D.R. CongoWon vacant African heavyweight title
18Loss14–4 Flag of Russia.svg Dmitry Kudryashov KO1 (10), 0:5030 Nov 2013 Flag of Russia.svg Triumph, Lyubertsy, Russia
17Win14–3 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Mugabon MudimbaKO5 (6)31 May 2013 Flag of South Africa.svg Southern Sun, Cape Town, South Africa
16Loss13–3 Flag of South Africa.svg Danie Venter TKO4 (10), 2:2322 Sep 2012 Flag of South Africa.svg Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, South AfricaSuper 8 "Last Man Standing" Tournament: cruiserweight semi-final
15Win13–2 Flag of South Africa.svg Tshepang MohaleTKO1 (8), 1:2116 Jun 2012 Flag of South Africa.svg Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, South AfricaSuper 8 "Last Man Standing" Tournament: cruiserweight quarter-final
14Win12–2 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Kizito RuhamnyeKO1 (8), 2:5923 Nov 2011 Flag of South Africa.svg Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, South Africa
13Win11–2 Flag of South Africa.svg Thabiso Mchunu TKO6 (8), 1:4524 Sep 2011 Flag of South Africa.svg Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, South Africa
12Win10–2 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Alex MbayaTKO1 (6)10 May 2011 Flag of South Africa.svg Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, South Africa
11Win9–2 Flag of Ghana.svg Epiphanie PipiRTD3 (8), 3:001 Mar 2011 Flag of South Africa.svg Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, South Africa
10Loss8–2 Flag of the United States.svg Paul JennetteSD810 Oct 2009 Flag of the United States.svg Coliseum Complex Events Center, Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S.For UBC Intercontinental cruiserweight title
9Loss8–1 Flag of Hungary.svg József Nagy TKO6 (12), 1:555 Sep 2008 Flag of South Africa.svg Graceland Hotel Casino, Secunda, South AfricaFor vacant WBF (Foundation) cruiserweight title
8Win8–0 Flag of Brazil.svg Luzimar GonzagaKO1 (10), 2:461 Feb 2008 Flag of South Africa.svg Graceland Hotel Casino, Secunda, South Africa
7Win7–0 Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Chamunorwa GonorendaTKO2 (6)2 Nov 2007 Flag of South Africa.svg Indoor Sports Centre, KwaMashu, South Africa
6Win6–0 Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg Gino BetokoRTD2 (12)6 Jul 2007 Flag of South Africa.svg Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, South AfricaWon vacant WBF (Foundation) Intercontinental cruiserweight title
5Win5–0 Flag of Ghana.svg Moyoyo MensahTKO3 (6)11 May 2007 Flag of South Africa.svg Sasol Recreation Centre, Secunda, South Africa
4Win4–0 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Nsitu MbayaKO1 (6)16 Mar 2007 Flag of South Africa.svg Civic Hall, Benoni, South Africa
3Win3–0 Flag of South Africa.svg Basil RayTKO2 (4)27 October 2006 Flag of South Africa.svg Wembley Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa
2Win2–0 Flag of South Africa.svg Mark StrydomDQ1 (?)5 Sep 2006 Flag of South Africa.svg Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, South AfricaDeliberate head-butt
1Win1–0 Flag of South Africa.svg Bully MuravhaKO3 (4), 1:2212 May 2006 Flag of South Africa.svg Sasol Sports Arena, Secunda, South Africa

Kickboxing record (Incomplete)

Kickboxing record (Incomplete)
15 Wins (13 (T)KO's, 1 Decision), 4 Losses, 0 Draws
DateResultOpponentEventLocationMethodRoundTimeRecord
2016-11-05Loss Flag of Russia.svg Artem Vakhitov Glory 35: Nice Nice, France TKO (3 knockdowns)22:2315–4–0
For the unified Glory Light Heavyweight Championship.
2016-06-25Win Flag of Tunisia.svg Mourad Bouzidi Glory 31: Amsterdam Amsterdam, Netherlands TKO (3 knockdowns)11:4715–3–0
Wins the interim Glory Light Heavyweight Championship.
2016-04-16Win Flag of France.svg Zinedine Hameur-Lain Glory 29: Copenhagen Copenhagen, Denmark Decision (unanimous)33:0014–3–0
2015-09-19Loss Flag of Brazil.svg Saulo Cavalari Bellator MMA & Glory: Dynamite 1 San Jose, California, USA Decision (majority)53:0013–3–0
For the vacant Glory Light Heavyweight Championship.
2015-06-05Win Flag of the United States.svg Carlos Brooks Glory 22: Lille Lille, France KO (left hook)11:5813–2–0
2014-11-07Loss Flag of Brazil.svg Saulo Cavalari Glory 18: Oklahoma, Final Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA KO (high kick)30:2012–2–0
For the Glory Light Heavyweight Contender Tournament.
2014-11-07Win Flag of the United States.svg Brian Collette Glory 18: Oklahoma, Semi Finals Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA KO (left hook)20:4512–1–0
2014-05-03Win Flag of the United States.svg Pat Barry Glory 16: Denver, Reserve Match Broomfield, Colorado, USA KO (left uppercut)12:3311–1–0
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Combat Press Kickboxing Rankings: October 2017". combatpress.com.
  2. 1 2 3 4 John Joe O'Regan (2014-05-02). "Zack Mwekassa: 'I come from a land of war'". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 2014-05-04.
  3. ↑ "GLORY 18 Heads to Oklahoma on Nov. 7, Features Kiria-Van Roosmalen". combatpress.com. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  4. ↑ "GLORY 18 'Return to Glory' Results: Van Roosmalen Edges Kiria, Cavalari Captures Tourney". combatpress.com. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  5. ↑ Michael Stets (2015-07-30). "Bellator 142: 'Dynamite' fight card gets Zack Mwekassa vs Saulo Cavalari rematch for vacant GLORY light heavyweight title". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2015-08-06.
  6. ↑ "Mwekassa: 'Bouzidi will find out on Saturday how slick my boxing is'". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  7. ↑ "Video: Zack Mwekassa destroys Mourad Bouzidi in first round to win GLORY interim light heavyweight title". mmamania.com. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  8. ↑ "GLORY 35 results: Artem Vakhitov finishes Zack Mwekassa, unifies Light Heavyweight title". mmamania.com. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
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