Zack Mwekassa

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

Zack Mwekassa
Born (1984-01-20) 20 January 1984
Kinshasa, DR Congo
Other namesThe Black penters
NationalityDR Congolese
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight95 kg (209 lb; 14 st 13 lb)
DivisionCruiserweight (boxing)
Heavyweight (kickboxing)
StyleBoxing
Fighting out ofJohannesburg, 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

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 fights 15 wins 4 losses
By knockout 14 3
By decision 0 1
By disqualification 1 0
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
19 Win 15–4 Kenya Bernard Adie TKO 7 (12) 28 Jun 2014 Democratic Republic of the Congo Grand Hôtel, Kinshasa, D.R. Congo Won vacant African heavyweight title
18 Loss 14–4 Russia Dmitry Kudryashov KO 1 (10), 0:50 30 Nov 2013 Russia Triumph, Lyubertsy, Russia
17 Win 14–3 Democratic Republic of the Congo Mugabon Mudimba KO 5 (6) 31 May 2013 South Africa Southern Sun, Cape Town, South Africa
16 Loss 13–3 South Africa Danie Venter TKO 4 (10), 2:23 22 Sep 2012 South Africa Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, South Africa Super 8 "Last Man Standing" Tournament: cruiserweight semi-final
15 Win 13–2 South Africa Tshepang Mohale TKO 1 (8), 1:21 16 Jun 2012 South Africa Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, South Africa Super 8 "Last Man Standing" Tournament: cruiserweight quarter-final
14 Win 12–2 Democratic Republic of the Congo Kizito Ruhamnye KO 1 (8), 2:59 23 Nov 2011 South Africa Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, South Africa
13 Win 11–2 South Africa Thabiso Mchunu TKO 6 (8), 1:45 24 Sep 2011 South Africa Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, South Africa
12 Win 10–2 Democratic Republic of the Congo Alex Mbaya TKO 1 (6) 10 May 2011 South Africa Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, South Africa
11 Win 9–2 Ghana Epiphanie Pipi RTD 3 (8), 3:00 1 Mar 2011 South Africa Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, South Africa
10 Loss 8–2 United States Paul Jennette SD 8 10 Oct 2009 United States Coliseum Complex Events Center, Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S. For UBC Intercontinental cruiserweight title
9 Loss 8–1 Hungary József Nagy TKO 6 (12), 1:55 5 Sep 2008 South Africa Graceland Hotel Casino, Secunda, South Africa For vacant WBF (Foundation) cruiserweight title
8 Win 8–0 Brazil Luzimar Gonzaga KO 1 (10), 2:46 1 Feb 2008 South Africa Graceland Hotel Casino, Secunda, South Africa
7 Win 7–0 Zimbabwe Chamunorwa Gonorenda TKO 2 (6) 2 Nov 2007 South Africa Indoor Sports Centre, KwaMashu, South Africa
6 Win 6–0 Republic of the Congo Gino Betoko RTD 2 (12) 6 Jul 2007 South Africa Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, South Africa Won vacant WBF (Foundation) Intercontinental cruiserweight title
5 Win 5–0 Ghana Moyoyo Mensah TKO 3 (6) 11 May 2007 South Africa Sasol Recreation Centre, Secunda, South Africa
4 Win 4–0 Democratic Republic of the Congo Nsitu Mbaya KO 1 (6) 16 Mar 2007 South Africa Civic Hall, Benoni, South Africa
3 Win 3–0 South Africa Basil Ray TKO 2 (4) 27 October 2006 South Africa Wembley Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa
2 Win 2–0 South Africa Mark Strydom DQ 1 (?) 5 Sep 2006 South Africa Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, South Africa Deliberate head-butt
1 Win 1–0 South Africa Bully Muravha KO 3 (4), 1:22 12 May 2006 South Africa Sasol Sports Arena, Secunda, South Africa

Kickboxing record (Incomplete)
Kickboxing record (Incomplete)
15 Wins (13 (T)KO's, 1 Decision), 4 Losses, 0 Draws
Date Result OpponentEventLocation MethodRoundTimeRecord
2016-11-05LossRussia Artem VakhitovGlory 35: NiceNice, FranceTKO (3 knockdowns)22:2315–4–0
For the unified Glory Light Heavyweight Championship.
2016-06-25WinTunisia Mourad BouzidiGlory 31: AmsterdamAmsterdam, NetherlandsTKO (3 knockdowns)11:4715–3–0
Wins the interim Glory Light Heavyweight Championship.
2016-04-16WinFrance Zinedine Hameur-LainGlory 29: CopenhagenCopenhagen, DenmarkDecision (unanimous)33:0014–3–0
2015-09-19LossBrazil Saulo CavalariBellator MMA & Glory: Dynamite 1San Jose, California, USADecision (majority)53:0013–3–0
For the vacant Glory Light Heavyweight Championship.
2015-06-05WinUnited States Carlos BrooksGlory 22: LilleLille, FranceKO (left hook)11:5813–2–0
2014-11-07LossBrazil Saulo CavalariGlory 18: Oklahoma, FinalOklahoma City, Oklahoma, USAKO (high kick)30:2012–2–0
For the Glory Light Heavyweight Contender Tournament.
2014-11-07WinUnited States Brian ColletteGlory 18: Oklahoma, Semi FinalsOklahoma City, Oklahoma, USAKO (left hook)20:4512–1–0
2014-05-03WinUnited States Pat BarryGlory 16: Denver, Reserve MatchBroomfield, Colorado, USAKO (left uppercut)12:3311–1–0
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

See also

References
  1. "Combat Press Kickboxing Rankings: October 2017". combatpress.com.
  2. 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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