Patrizio Sumbu Kalambay (born 10 April 1956) 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 (33 KOs). He then worked as a boxing trainer, coaching, among others, Paolo Vidoz and Michele Piccirillo.

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes64LossChris PyattUD12May 19, 199363Win57–5–1Eddie EvansKO1 (8)Apr 14, 199362Win56–5–1Steve CollinsPTS12Oct 22, 199261Win55–5–1Paul WesleyPTS10Jun 6, 199260Win54–5–1Herol GrahamUD12Mar 12, 199259Win53–5–1Miodrag PerunovićTKO4 (12)Nov 14, 199158Win52–5–1John AshtonRTD6 (12)Aug 24, 199157Loss51–5–1Mike McCallumSD12Apr 1, 199156Win51–4–1Miguel Angel MaldonadoPTS8Nov 24, 199055Win50–4–1Frederic SeillierTKO9 (12)Jul 8, 199054Win49–4–1Francesco Dell'AquilaTKO9 (12)Jan 24, 199053Win48–4–1Reggie MillerRTD1 (8)Nov 29, 198952Win47–4–1Tony PowellKO5 (?)Oct 7, 198951Loss46–4–1Michael NunnKO1 (12)Mar 25, 198950Win46–3–1Doug DeWittTKO7 (15)Nov 8, 198849Win45–3–1Robbie SimsUD12Jun 12, 198848Win44–3–1Mike McCallumUD12Mar 5, 198847Win43–3–1Iran BarkleyUD15Oct 23, 198746Win42–3–1Herol GrahamUD12May 26, 198745Win41–3–1Basante BlancoRTD5 (?)Mar 21, 198744Win40–3–1Cecil PettigrewPTS8Dec 13, 198643Win39–3–1Giovanni De MarcoRTD11 (12)Sep 4, 198642Win38–3–1Cliff GilpinPTS8Mar 15, 198641Loss37–3–1Ayub KaluleSD12Dec 19, 198540Win37–2–1Giovanni De MarcoSD12sep 26, 198539Win36–2–1Donald BowersPTS8Jul 14, 198538Win35–2–1Jose DuartePTS10Apr 27, 198537Loss34–2–1Duane ThomasPTS10Apr 6, 198536Win34–1–1Tony HarrisonTKO4 (?)Mar 8, 198535Win33–1–1Clint JacksonPTS8Dec 10, 198434Win32–1–1Tony CerdaPTS8Sep 22, 198433Win31–1–1Bobby HoyePTS8Jul 8, 198432Win30–1–1Allen AlexanderPTS8Apr 13, 198431Win29–1–1Kenneth StylesTKO2 (?)Feb 18, 198430Win28–1–1Irving HinesKO8 (?)Dec 9, 198329Win27–1–1Ralph MoncriefPTS8Oct 30, 198328Win26–1–1James WilliamsKO1 (?)Oct 13, 198327Win25–1–1Guy KennedyTKO6 (8)Sep 3, 198326Win24–1–1Jimmie SykesPTS8Jul 24, 198325Win23–1–1Wilson BellKO1 (?)Apr 10, 198324Win22–1–1Bruce JohnsonTKO6 (?)Feb 24, 198323Win21–1–1Stacy McSwainTKO3 (?)Dec 22, 198222Win20–1–1Salvador Perez RamosKO2 (?)Dec 10, 198221Win19–1–1Buster DraytonPTS8Oct 30, 198220Win18–1–1Joe OuruDQ1 (?)Sep 1, 198219Win17–1–1Jose QuinonesTKO2 (?)May 29, 198218Win16–1–1Costello KingKO2 (?)Apr 2, 198217Win15–1–1Steve WilliamsTKO2 (?)Feb 5, 198216Win14–1–1Gabriele LazzariTKO6 (?)Dec 26, 198115Win13–1–1Jose LozanoPTS8Dec 11, 198114Win12–1–1Michel PaganiKO2 (?)Nov 13, 198113Win11–1–1Sonny KamungaKO7 (?)Oct 23, 198112Win10–1–1Jose Luis DuranTKO4 (?)Sep 25, 198111Win9–1–1Christian D'HelftTKO3 (?)Jun 27, 198110Win8–1–1Giovanni MartorinaTKO1 (?)May 28, 19819Win7–1–1Christian D'HelftTKO1 (?)May 15, 19818Win6–1–1Damiano LassandroTKO8 (8)Apr 17, 19817Win5–1–1Giovanni MartorinaPTS6Mar 20, 19816Win4–1–1Cosimo CarboneTKO3 (?)Mar 9, 19815Win3–1–1Christian D'HelftPTS8Feb 5, 19814Draw2–1–1Stephane FerraraPTS6Jan 8, 19813Loss2–1Aldo BuzzettiPTS8Dec 5, 19802Win2–0Luigi MariniTKO6 (?)Oct 24, 19801Win1–0Esperno PostlTKO7 (8)Oct 10, 1980

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.

See also List of world middleweight boxing champions

References

Bibliography Gabriele Tinti, Sumbu Kalambay,Con l'Africa dentro, Milan, Mimesis, 2010.

External links