Danyo Ilunga
Encyclopedia
Danyo "Dibuba" Ilunga is a Congolese
-German
Muay Thai
heavyweight
kickboxer. He is currently fighting out of the Fighting Gym Waldbröl based in Waldbröl, Germany
, where he is trained by Asmir Burgic and K-1
star Remy Bonjasky
. Danyo is a x4 time kickboxing and Muaythai world champion - most notably being the current It's Showtime 95MAX world champion.
, resettling in Germany
. In 2006 Danyo took up kickboxing under the tutelage of K-1 Germany 2003 champion and now trainer, Asmir Burgic. After winning several domestic titles Danyo entered the four man "1-King" Muaythai tournament in Bamberg
, defeating both of his opponents on the night by stoppage to claim the super heavyweight crown. He followed up this victory the next year by claiming the vacant W.K.A.
European title by defeating Tomi Colic, a late replacement for original opponent Roland Dabinovci, in what was a competitive fight.
By the end of 2009, Danyo won his first world title beating Jochen Gieb by TKO in the third to claim the I.M.C. belt. He then followed his trainer and mentor Asmir Burgic by winning the German King Cup later that year (Burgic had won the previous edition) and retained his I.M.C. world title later that year by easily stopping his Turkish opponent in the first round. After an extensive winning streak on the local scene, beating fighters such as Karl Glischynski, Danyo lost his first match in a while, dropping a decision to the Dutch
based Angolan
Henriques Zowa. Unused to defeat, Danyo had a chance to make up for this setback in Leverkusen
facing previous foe Karl Glischynski for the I.K.B.O. world title recently vacated by Florian Ogunade. Danyo won the rematch in spectacular fashion, stopping Glischynski in the second with a knee/punch combination to become the new world champion.
In 2011 Danyo, who had recently been training with x3 time K-1
world champion Remy Bonjasky
, was called up to make his It's Showtime
debut against Wendell Roche
for the vacant 95MAX world title recently held by Tyrone Spong
. Coming in to the fight relatively unheard of outside of Germany, Danyo outworked It's Showtime regular Wendell Roche
over five rounds, scoring well with counter attacks to frustrate Roche and gain the unanimous decision victory and the It's Showtime world title belt.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
-German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Muay Thai
Muay Thai
Muay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...
heavyweight
Heavyweight
Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Fighters who weigh over 200 pounds are considered heavyweights by the major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Council, and the World Boxing...
kickboxer. He is currently fighting out of the Fighting Gym Waldbröl based in Waldbröl, Germany
Waldbröl
Waldbröl is a town is in the southern part of the Oberbergischer Kreis , in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geographical location:The city lies on the slopes of the Nutscheid and is part of the Naturpark Bergisches Land...
, where he is trained by Asmir Burgic and K-1
K-1
K-1 is a defunct world-wide kickboxing promotion based in Tokyo, Japan founded by Kazuyoshi Ishii, a formerKyokushin karate practitioner. K-1 combines stand up techniques from Muay Thai, Karate, Taekwondo, Savate, San Shou, kickboxing, western-style boxing, and other martial arts...
star Remy Bonjasky
Remy Bonjasky
Remy "The Flying Gentleman" Bonjasky is a Dutch super heavyweight kickboxer of Surinamese descent. He is a three-time K-1 World Grand Prix champion, who has won the title in 2003, 2004, and 2008...
. Danyo is a x4 time kickboxing and Muaythai world champion - most notably being the current It's Showtime 95MAX world champion.
Biography and career
Danyo was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo as one of seven children. The son of a prominent politian, the family had to flee due to the recurring conflict in the Democratic Republic of the CongoDemocratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
, resettling in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. In 2006 Danyo took up kickboxing under the tutelage of K-1 Germany 2003 champion and now trainer, Asmir Burgic. After winning several domestic titles Danyo entered the four man "1-King" Muaythai tournament in Bamberg
Bamberg
Bamberg is a city in Bavaria, Germany. It is located in Upper Franconia on the river Regnitz, close to its confluence with the river Main. Bamberg is one of the few cities in Germany that was not destroyed by World War II bombings because of a nearby Artillery Factory that prevented planes from...
, defeating both of his opponents on the night by stoppage to claim the super heavyweight crown. He followed up this victory the next year by claiming the vacant W.K.A.
World Kickboxing Association
The World Kickboxing Association is one of the oldest and the largest amateur and professional sanctioning organizations of kickboxing in the world for the sport. Its official name is "World Kickboxing and Karate Association"....
European title by defeating Tomi Colic, a late replacement for original opponent Roland Dabinovci, in what was a competitive fight.
By the end of 2009, Danyo won his first world title beating Jochen Gieb by TKO in the third to claim the I.M.C. belt. He then followed his trainer and mentor Asmir Burgic by winning the German King Cup later that year (Burgic had won the previous edition) and retained his I.M.C. world title later that year by easily stopping his Turkish opponent in the first round. After an extensive winning streak on the local scene, beating fighters such as Karl Glischynski, Danyo lost his first match in a while, dropping a decision to the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
based Angolan
Angolan
Angolan may refer to:* Something of, or related to Angola* A person from Angola, or of Angolan descent. For information about the Angolan people, see Demographics of Angola and Culture of Angola. For specific Angolans, see List of Angolans....
Henriques Zowa. Unused to defeat, Danyo had a chance to make up for this setback in Leverkusen
Leverkusen
Leverkusen is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany on the eastern bank of the Rhine. To the South, Leverkusen borders the city of Cologne and to the North is the state capital Düsseldorf....
facing previous foe Karl Glischynski for the I.K.B.O. world title recently vacated by Florian Ogunade. Danyo won the rematch in spectacular fashion, stopping Glischynski in the second with a knee/punch combination to become the new world champion.
In 2011 Danyo, who had recently been training with x3 time K-1
K-1
K-1 is a defunct world-wide kickboxing promotion based in Tokyo, Japan founded by Kazuyoshi Ishii, a formerKyokushin karate practitioner. K-1 combines stand up techniques from Muay Thai, Karate, Taekwondo, Savate, San Shou, kickboxing, western-style boxing, and other martial arts...
world champion Remy Bonjasky
Remy Bonjasky
Remy "The Flying Gentleman" Bonjasky is a Dutch super heavyweight kickboxer of Surinamese descent. He is a three-time K-1 World Grand Prix champion, who has won the title in 2003, 2004, and 2008...
, was called up to make his It's Showtime
It's Showtime
It's Showtime is a kickboxing and mixed martial arts promotion based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It was founded by Simon Rutz in 1998 and held its first show in 1999. They are known to cross promote their events with K-1 and other European promotions from Italy, Belgium and England...
debut against Wendell Roche
Wendell Roche
Wendell Roche is a Dutch-Curaçao heavyweight kickboxer. He holds an amazing achievement in being the only man to ever defeat the kickboxing great Ginty Vrede....
for the vacant 95MAX world title recently held by Tyrone Spong
Tyrone Spong
Tyrone "King of The Ring" Spong is a Dutch-Surinamese kickboxer. He is the reigning WFCA Cruiserweight Muay Thai and the former It's Showtime 95MAX World champion, fighting out of Fighting Factory Carbin in Amsterdam, Netherlands....
. Coming in to the fight relatively unheard of outside of Germany, Danyo outworked It's Showtime regular Wendell Roche
Wendell Roche
Wendell Roche is a Dutch-Curaçao heavyweight kickboxer. He holds an amazing achievement in being the only man to ever defeat the kickboxing great Ginty Vrede....
over five rounds, scoring well with counter attacks to frustrate Roche and gain the unanimous decision victory and the It's Showtime world title belt.
Titles
- 2011–present It's Showtime 95MAX world champion -95 kg (1 title defence)
- 2010 I.K.B.O. Muaythai heavyweight world champion -95 kg
- 2010 I.M.C. Muaythai world champion -95 kg (1st title defence)
- 2009 German King Cup (K-1 rules) heavyweight tournament champion +95 kg
- 2009 I.M.C. Muaythai world champion -95 kg
- 2009 W.K.A.World Kickboxing AssociationThe World Kickboxing Association is one of the oldest and the largest amateur and professional sanctioning organizations of kickboxing in the world for the sport. Its official name is "World Kickboxing and Karate Association"....
(K-1 rules) heavyweight European champion -95 kg - 2008 "1-King" International (K-1 rules) super heavyweight tournament champion +100 kg
- IFMA national German champion
Kickboxing record
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