Sumbu Kalambay


Patrizio Sumbu Kalambay is a Congolese-Italian former professional boxer. A world champion and two-time title challenger, he held the WBA world middleweight title from 1987 until 1988.

Personal life

Kalambay was born in the Belgian Congo. He moved to Italy during his youth, settling in Chiaravalle, in the Marche region, where he learned boxing and still resides. He changed his name to Patrizio as a tribute to fellow Italian boxer Patrizio Oliva.

Professional career

After compiling an amateur record of 90 wins and 5 losses, Kalambay turned professional in 1980. In 1985, he was outpointed over ten rounds by Duane Thomas in Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States. Kalambay won the Italian middleweight title by defeating Giovanni De Marco by split decision, then lost to former WBA light middleweight champion Ayub Kalule by split decision over twelve rounds for the European middleweight title.
In May 1987 at The Arena, Wembley, London, Kalambay won the European middleweight title by outpointing Herol Graham, who was 38-0 and ranked #1 in the world.
In his next fight, Kalambay defeated future three-weight world champion Iran Barkley by unanimous decision over fifteen rounds to win the vacant WBA middleweight title. He made three successful title defenses, including an upset unanimous decision win over Mike McCallum, the undefeated former WBA light middleweight champion.
In March 1989, at the Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, he boxed undefeated IBF middleweight champion Michael Nunn, being stripped of the WBA belt prior to the bout. Surprisingly, Kalambay was knocked out in the first round with one punch. It was the only knock out loss of his career.
In 1990, Kalambay regained the European title by defeating Francesco Dell'Aquila, and defended it against Frederic Seillier, both via ninth round stoppages. In 1991, Kalambay had a rematch with McCallum in an attempt to regain the WBA middleweight title, which McCallum won by a close split decision.
Kalambay made four more successful defenses of the European title in Italy, including a rematch win over Herol Graham, and a points victory over future two-weight world champion Steve Collins.
In May 1993, at Granby Halls, Leicester, East Midlands, England, Kalambay lost by unanimous decision to Chris Pyatt in a challenge for the vacant WBO middleweight title.
At 37, Kalambay retired with a record of 57-6-1. He then worked as a boxing trainer, coaching, among others, Paolo Vidoz and Michele Piccirillo.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
64LossChris PyattUD12May 19, 1993Granby Halls, Leicester, England, U.K.For vacant WBO middleweight title
63Win57–5–1Eddie EvansKO1 Apr 14, 1993PalaEur, Rome, Italy
62Win56–5–1Steve CollinsPTS12Oct 22, 1992Verbania, ItalyRetained European middleweight title
61Win55–5–1Paul WesleyPTS10Jun 6, 1992Salice Terme, Italy
60Win54–5–1Herol GrahamUD12Mar 12, 1992Pesaro, ItalyRetained European middleweight title
59Win53–5–1Miodrag PerunovićTKO4 Nov 14, 1991Palazzo dello Sport, Ancona, ItalyRetained European middleweight title
58Win52–5–1John AshtonRTD6 Aug 24, 1991Pesaro, ItalyRetained European middleweight title
57Loss51–5–1Mike McCallumSD12Apr 1, 1991Stade Louis II, Fontvieille, MonacoFor WBA middleweight title
56Win51–4–1Miguel Angel MaldonadoPTS8Nov 24, 1990Velletri, Italy
55Win50–4–1Frederic SeillierTKO9 Jul 8, 1990Parc des Lices, Toulon, FranceRetained European middleweight title
54Win49–4–1Francesco Dell'AquilaTKO9 Jan 24, 1990Campobello di Mazara, ItalyWon European middleweight title
53Win48–4–1Reggie MillerRTD1 Nov 29, 1989Pesaro, Italy
52Win47–4–1Tony PowellKO5 Oct 7, 1989Pesaro, Italy
51Loss46–4–1Michael NunnKO1 Mar 25, 1989Hilton Hotel, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.Lost The Ring middleweight title
For IBF middleweight titles
50Win46–3–1Doug DeWittTKO7 Nov 8, 1988Stade Louis II, Fontvieille, MonacoRetained WBA and The Ring middleweight titles
49Win45–3–1Robbie SimsUD12Jun 12, 1988Palazzo Dello Sport, Ravenna, ItalyRetained WBA and The Ring middleweight titles
48Win44–3–1Mike McCallumUD12Mar 5, 1988Palazzo Dello Sport, Pesaro, ItalyRetained WBA middleweight title
47Win43–3–1Iran BarkleyUD15Oct 23, 1987Palazzo Dello Sport, Livorno, ItalyWon vacant WBA middleweight title
46Win42–3–1Herol GrahamUD12May 26, 1987Wembley Arena, Wembley, England, U.K.Won European middleweight title
45Win41–3–1Basante BlancoRTD5 Mar 21, 1987Ischia, Italy
44Win40–3–1Cecil PettigrewPTS8Dec 13, 1986Ragusa, Italy
43Win39–3–1Giovanni De MarcoRTD11 Sep 4, 1986Silvi, ItalyRetained Italian middleweight title
42Win38–3–1Cliff GilpinPTS8Mar 15, 1986Stade Louis II, Fontvieille, Monaco
41Loss37–3–1Ayub KaluleSD12Dec 19, 1985Palazzo dello Sport, Ancona, ItalyFor European middleweight title
40Win37–2–1Giovanni De MarcoSD12sep 26, 1985Caserta, ItalyWon Italian middleweight title
39Win36–2–1Donald BowersPTS8Jul 14, 1985Stade Louis II, Fontvieille, Monaco
38Win35–2–1Jose DuartePTS10Apr 27, 1985Avellino, Italy
37Loss34–2–1Duane ThomasPTS10Apr 6, 1985Ballys Park Place Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
36Win34–1–1Tony HarrisonTKO4 Mar 8, 1985Piagge, Italy
35Win33–1–1Clint JacksonPTS8Dec 10, 1984Palais Omnisport de Paris-Bercy, Paris, France
34Win32–1–1Tony CerdaPTS8Sep 22, 1984Chapiteau de l'Espace, Fontvieille, Monaco
33Win31–1–1Bobby HoyePTS8Jul 8, 1984Perugia, Italy
32Win30–1–1Allen AlexanderPTS8Apr 13, 1984Pesaro, Italy
31Win29–1–1Kenneth StylesTKO2 Feb 18, 1984Capo d'Orlando, Italy
30Win28–1–1Irving HinesKO8 Dec 9, 1983Fano, Italy
29Win27–1–1Ralph MoncriefPTS8Oct 30, 1983Sanremo, Italy
28Win26–1–1James WilliamsKO1 Oct 13, 1983Pesaro, Italy
27Win25–1–1Guy KennedyTKO6 Sep 3, 1983Stadio Municipale, Marsala, Italy
26Win24–1–1Jimmie SykesPTS8Jul 24, 1983PalaEur, Rome, Italy
25Win23–1–1Wilson BellKO1 Apr 10, 1983Sanremo, Italy
24Win22–1–1Bruce JohnsonTKO6 Feb 24, 1983Bologna, Italy
23Win21–1–1Stacy McSwainTKO3 Dec 22, 1982Saint-Vincent, Aosta Valley, Italy
22Win20–1–1Salvador Perez RamosKO2 Dec 10, 1982Pesaro, Italy
21Win19–1–1Buster DraytonPTS8Oct 30, 1982Teatro Ariston, Sanremo, Italy
20Win18–1–1Joe OuruDQ1 Sep 1, 1982Forio d'Ischia, Italy
19Win17–1–1Jose QuinonesTKO2 May 29, 1982Milan, Italy
18Win16–1–1Costello KingKO2 Apr 2, 1982Milan, Italy
17Win15–1–1Steve WilliamsTKO2 Feb 5, 1982Bologna, Italy
16Win14–1–1Gabriele LazzariTKO6 Dec 26, 1981Bologna, Italy
15Win13–1–1Jose LozanoPTS8Dec 11, 1981Milan, Italy
14Win12–1–1Michel PaganiKO2 Nov 13, 1981Rome, Italy
13Win11–1–1Sonny KamungaKO7 Oct 23, 1981Pesaro, Italy
12Win10–1–1Jose Luis DuranTKO4 Sep 25, 1981Pesaro, Italy
11Win9–1–1Christian D'HelftTKO3 Jun 27, 1981Pesaro, Italy
10Win8–1–1Giovanni MartorinaTKO1 May 28, 1981Milan, Italy
9Win7–1–1Christian D'HelftTKO1 May 15, 1981Pesaro, Italy
8Win6–1–1Damiano LassandroTKO8 Apr 17, 1981Pesaro, Italy
7Win5–1–1Giovanni MartorinaPTS6Mar 20, 1981Ancona, Italy
6Win4–1–1Cosimo CarboneTKO3 Mar 9, 1981Rome, Italy
5Win3–1–1Christian D'HelftPTS8Feb 5, 1981Paris, France
4Draw2–1–1Stephane FerraraPTS6Jan 8, 1981Paris, France
3Loss2–1Aldo BuzzettiPTS8Dec 5, 1980Piacenza, Italy
2Win2–0Luigi MariniTKO6 Oct 24, 1980Ancona, Italy
1Win1–0Esperno PostlTKO7 Oct 10, 1980Wolkersdorf, Austria

Career after boxing

Sumbu Kalambay is currently the trainer of boxers Paolo Vidoz, Michele Piccirillo and Carel Sandon.

Family

He is the father of Patrick Kalambay, an Italian football midfielder.