Sumbu Kalambay

Sumbu " Patrizio " Kalambay ( born April 10, 1956 in Lumumbashi, Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of Congo ) is a former Italian boxer of Congolese origin.

Career

Kalambay played as an amateur 95 fights with 90 wins and five defeats. In 1980 he became professional in Italy. His third professional fight he lost on points, in the fourth he punched only draw. Later he succeeded to 1985 a series of 32 consecutive victories until he lost in the U.S. against the eventual WBC titlist Duane Thomas.

In December of the same year he lost a European Championship fight against southpaw Ayub Kalule on points, both were there on the ground.

But in the second trial could wrest the European title in May 1987 the undefeated in 38 fights, clearly favored English southpaw Herol Graham, who had knocked out also Kalule abroad.

In his next bout, he boxed on October 23, 1987 compared Iran Barkley for the vacant WBA championship and won the title over 15 rounds on points.

In his first defense of the title he beat then even a sensational undefeated light middleweight star Mike McCallum.

After two more wins him the championship belt was withdrawn at the green table, and he traveled to the U.S. to challenge Michael Nunn, another southpaw, for the IBF crown. The average rather powerful Nunn was at the peak of its power assets and managed with the " KO of the Year" (according to Ring Magazine ) is equal in the first round to surprise Kalambay.

In 1990 he again won the European Championship, which he still repeatedly defended in the following years, among others in a renewed battle against Herol Graham (very controversial victory in Italy) and the Irishman Steve Collins. In the rematch against McCallum for the WBA title he lost in April 1991 in Monaco on points.

After a knockout loss in 1993 against Chris Pyatt in the fight for the WBO title he ended his career. Today he is the coach of Paolo Vidoz.