Yves Ngabu (born 5 December 1988) is a Belgian professional boxer who is the current IBO World Cruiserweight champion after his win over Australian boxer Floyd Masson in september 2023. He also held the European cruiserweight title from 2017 to 2019.

Yves Ngabu
Born (1988-12-05) 5 December 1988 (age 36)
Statistics
Weight(s)Cruiserweight
Height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)[1]
Boxing record[2]
Total fights26
Wins23
Wins by KO17
Losses2
No contests1

Professional career

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Ngabu made his professional debut on 13 June 2011, scoring a four-round unanimous decision (UD) victory over Jessy Moreaux at Brielpoort in Deinze, Belgium.[3]

After compiling a record of 8–0 (6 KOs) he defeated Christophe Dufaux on 21 June 2014 in Lichtervelde, Belgium, capturing the vacant Belgian cruiserweight title via second-round technical knockout (TKO).[4] After five more wins, four by stoppage, he won his second professional title, defeating Engin Karakaplan on 11 November 2015 in Zwevezele, Belgium, capturing the vacant WBC Francophone cruiserweight title via first-round knockout (KO).[5]

Following two eight-round UD victories – against Isosso Mondo in June[6] and Alexander Kubich in November 2016[7] – Ngabu was scheduled to face Geoffrey Battelo for the vacant European cruiserweight title on 4 June 2017 in Roeselare, Belgium. Battelo was forced to withdraw through injury after being involved in a car accident,[8] prompting Mirko Larghetti to step in as a replacement. However, after Larghetti was also forced to withdraw two weeks before the bout with an illness, Tamas Lodi was brought in as a late replacement. Ngabu knocked Lodi down in the fourth round before the referee called a halt to the contest, handing Ngabu the European title via fourth-round TKO.[9]

He made two successful defences of the title – a third-round TKO against Geoffrey Battelo in January 2018[10] and a UD against Micki Nielsen in February 2019[11] – before facing former British and Commonwealth cruiserweight champion, Lawrence Okolie, on 26 October 2019 at The O2 Arena in London. Ngabu post his title via seventh-round TKO after a left-hook right-hand combination[12] sent Ngabu stumbling across the ring, prompting referee Robert Laine to step in and halt the contest.[13]

Professional boxing record

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26 fights 23 wins 2 losses
By knockout 17 1
By decision 6 1
No contests 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
26 Win 23–2 (1) Kevin Martinez RTD 6 (12), 3:00 29 Jun 2024 Hotel Pullman, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo Retained IBO cruiserweight title
25 Win 22–2 (1) Floyd Masson TKO 6 (12), 2:32 9 Sep 2023 Eatons Hill Hotel, Eatons Hill, Australia Won IBO cruiserweight title
24 Loss 21–2 (1) Evgeny Tishchenko SD 10 6 May 2023 KRK Uralets, Ekaterinburg, Russia
23 NC 21–1 (1) Brandon Deslaurier NC 4 (10), 3:00 7 Jun 2022 Hotel Westin, Paris, France For vacant WBO cruiserweight title
22 Win 21–1 Giorgi Kopadze KO 1 (6), 2:05 22 Apr 2022 Ledegem, Belgium
21 Loss 20–1 Lawrence Okolie TKO 7 (12), 2:28 26 Oct 2019 The O2 Arena, London, England Lost European cruiserweight title
20 Win 20–0 Micki Nielsen UD 12 16 Feb 2019 Sporthal Schiervelde, Roeselare, Belgium Retained European cruiserweight title
19 Win 19–0 Geoffrey Battelo TKO 3 (12) 27 Jan 2018 Arenahal, Deurne, Belgium Retained European cruiserweight title
18 Win 18–0 Tamas Lodi TKO 4 (12) 4 Jun 2017 Roeselare, Belgium Won vacant European cruiserweight title
17 Win 17–0 Alexander Kubich UD 8 11 Nov 2016 Sporthal De zwaluw, Zwevezele, Belgium
16 Win 16–0 Isossa Mondo UD 8 4 Jun 2016 Sporthal Schiervelde, Roeselare, Belgium
15 Win 15–0 Engin Karakaplan KO 1 (12), 2:46 11 Nov 2015 Zwevezele, Belgium Won vacant WBC Francophone cruiserweight title
14 Win 14–0 Peter Erdos TKO 3 (8) 26 Sep 2015 Hooglede, Belgium
13 Win 13–0 Gabriel Lacrosnier TKO 4 (8) 28 Feb 2015 Ghelamco Arena, Ghent, Belgium
12 Win 12–0 Cedric Kalonji RTD 2 (8), 3:00 25 Dec 2014 Izegem, Belgium
11 Win 11–0 Antoine Boya KO 8 (8), 1:45 11 Nov 2014 Zwevezele, Belgium
10 Win 10–0 Sylvain Luce UD 8 27 Sep 2014 Zaal Ogierlande, Hooglede, Belgium
9 Win 9–0 Christophe Dufaux TKO 2 (10) 21 Jun 2014 Lichtervelde, Belgium For vacant Belgian cruiserweight title
8 Win 8–0 Fabrice Clement KO 3 (8) 20 Apr 2014 Zwevezele, Belgium
7 Win 7–0 Viktor Szalai TKO 1 (8), 2:13 13 Dec 2013 Aalst, Belgium
6 Win 6–0 Attila Makula TKO 3 (6) 11 Nov 2013 Zwevezele, Belgium
5 Win 5–0 Carlos Torres Suarez TKO 4 (6), 2:15 15 Jun 2013 Sporthall, Lichtervelde, Belgium
4 Win 4–0 Astrando Arduin TKO 5 (6) 25 Dec 2012 Izegem, Belgium
3 Win 3–0 Ruslan Bitarov TKO 1 (6) 29 Jun 2012 Moorslede, Belgium
2 Win 2–0 Antonio Manuel UD 6 24 Jun 2011 Feesttent, Torhout, Belgium
1 Win 1–0 Jessy Moreaux UD 4 13 Jun 2011 Brielpoort, Deinze, Belgium

Personal life

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His parents emigrated to Belgium from the Democratic Republic of Congo when his father, professional footballer Jean-Pierre Mbemba-Ngabu, was signed by R.S.C. Anderlecht; he later played for K.S.V. Roeselare during the time he was born.[14]

Yves played in the lower leagues of Belgian football with KSKV Zwevezele as a forward.[14][15]

References

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  1. ^ Willoughby, Shane (29 July 2019). "Ngabu: Whenever Okolie Wants It, I'll Be Ready!". BoxingInsider.com. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  2. ^ "Boxing record for Yves Ngabu". BoxRec.
  3. ^ "BoxRec: Yves Ngabu vs. Jessy Moreaux". boxrec.com. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  4. ^ "BoxRec: Yves Ngabu vs. Christophe Dufaux". boxrec.com. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  5. ^ "BoxRec: Yves Ngabu vs. Engin Karakaplan". boxrec.com. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  6. ^ "BoxRec: Yves Ngabu vs. Isosso Mondo". boxrec.com. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  7. ^ "BoxRec: Yves Ngabu vs. Alexander Kubich". boxrec.com. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  8. ^ Bratusch, Marco (31 October 2017). "Boxing News: EBU Updates". fightnews.com. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  9. ^ Ake Persson, Per (5 June 2017). "Yves Ngabu Stops Tamas Lodi For EBU Cruiserweight Title". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  10. ^ Ake Persson, Per (28 January 2018). "Yves Ngabu Retains EBU Title With Stoppage of Geoffrey Batello". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  11. ^ Ake Persson, Per (16 February 2019). "Ngabu Beats Nielsen, Patera Retains, Baraou Decisions Molina". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  12. ^ Damarell, Richard (26 October 2019). "Prograis vs Taylor: Lawrence Okolie stops Yves Ngabu in seventh round". Sky Sports. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  13. ^ Christ, Scott (26 October 2019). "Lawrence Okolie stops Yves Ngabu in seven, wins European title". www.badlefthook.com. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  14. ^ a b Scott, Craig (23 September 2019). "EXCLUSIVE: Yves Ngabu – "The World at My Feet…"". Boxing Social. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  15. ^ "Yves Ngabu". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
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Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Bilal Laggoune
Belgian cruiserweight champion
21 June 2014 – 2015
Vacant
Title next held by
Samuel Kadje
Vacant
Title last held by
Alexandru Jur
WBC Francophone cruiserweight champion
11 November 2015 – 2016
Vacant
Title next held by
Taylor Mabika
Vacant
Title last held by
Dmytro Kucher
European cruiserweight champion
4 June 2017 – 26 October 2019
Succeeded by