Dawid Kostecki

Dawid Kostecki (27 June 1981 – 2 August 2019) was a Polish professional boxer who fought at light heavyweight.[1][2]

Dawid Kostecki
Statistics
Nickname(s)Cygan ("Gypsy")
Weight(s)Light-heavyweight
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
NationalityPolish
Born(1981-06-27)27 June 1981
Rzeszów, Poland
Died2 August 2019(2019-08-02) (aged 38)
Warsaw, Poland
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights41
Wins39
Wins by KO25
Losses2
Draws0

Personal life

Kostecki was born in Rzeszów, Poland. He married Edyta and they had four children.

Boxing titles
  • WBC Youth Light Heavyweight Title (2004)
  • WBF Light Heavyweight Title (2005)
  • IBC Light Heavyweight Title (2010)
  • (2) WBF Light Heavyweight Title (2010)
  • WBC Baltic Light Heavyweight Title (2010)
  • WBA Inter-Continental Light Heavyweight Title (2011)

Scheduled bout against Roy Jones Jr.

Dawid Kostecki is best remembered in boxing circles for a scheduled bout which never took place. In a major opportunity bout which could have propelled Kostecki into the worldwide light heavyweight ratings, Roy Jones was supposed to face Kostecki in a 10 round bout at Atlas Arena on 30 June 2012. Days before the fight, Kostecki was convicted of being the ringleader of a criminal organization and was imprisoned. Another Polish boxer, Paweł Głażewski stepped in to fight Jones instead. Jones defeated the 17-0 Głażewski by 10 round split decision. Kostecki missed the career change of a lifetime by now being able to fight the legendary ex-world champion Jones, who had signed for the bout, who showed up in Poland contractually anyway, and who fought a different Polish contender instead.

Escort business and prison

On 31 October 2011, the District Court in Rzeszów sentenced Kostecki to 2.5 years in prison for setting up and co-owning a criminal group. From 2003 to 2007 the group conducted three escort agencies. Investigators also accused him of trafficking in amphetamine, but the court acquitted him of the charge. He lodged an appeal. On 10 May 2012 the Court of Appeal upheld the judgment of 2.5 years imprisonment. On 13 August 2014, he was released from prison early.[3] He was subsequently returned to prison again in Warsaw in 2016 for five years after his fifth conviction, for drug trafficking, car theft, running a prostitution escort ring, and income tax evasion.[4]

Comeback to ring

After emerging from prison in 2014, Kostecki extended his contract by four years with Andrzej Wasilewski, owner of the Poland's Knockout Promotions.[5] Kostecki's comeback attempt ended in failure as he lost an eight round decision to Andrzej Soldra in Krakow Arena in Krakow Poland on 8 November 2014. Kostecki never fought again, finishing with a pro record of 39-2 with 25 knockouts.[4]

Death

Kostecki committed suicide by hanging in a Warsaw prison using bedsheets on 2 August 2019. He was survived by his wife and children.

References
  1. "Tragiczna śmierć polskiego pięściarza. Dawid Kostecki miał 38 lat" (in Polish). 2 August 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  2. Boxing record for Dawid Kostecki from BoxRec (registration required). Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  3. Sentenced to 2.5 years in prison. WP.PL
  4. Brizel, Robert (3 August 2019). "Light Heavyweight Champ Dawid 'Gypsy' Kostecki Dies in a Warsaw Prison at 38". REAL COMBAT MEDIA. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  5. Comeback. Przegląd Sportowy
  6. "Boxing record". Retrieved 4 August 2019.
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