# Sumbu Kalambay

Patrizio Sumbu Kalambay (born 10 April 1956) is an 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

| 64 fights | 57 wins | 6 losses |
| By knockout | 33 | 1 |
| By decision | 23 | 5 |
| By disqualification | 1 | 0 |
| Draws | 1 | 1 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 64 | Loss | 57–6–1 | Chris Pyatt | UD | 12 | May 19, 1993 | Granby Halls, Leicester, England, U.K. | For vacant WBO middleweight title |
| 63 | Win | 57–5–1 | Eddie Evans | KO | 1 (8) | Apr 14, 1993 | PalaEur, Rome, Italy | |
| 62 | Win | 56–5–1 | Steve Collins | PTS | 12 | Oct 22, 1992 | Verbania, Italy | Retained European middleweight title |
| 61 | Win | 55–5–1 | Paul Wesley | PTS | 10 | Jun 6, 1992 | Salice Terme, Italy | |
| 60 | Win | 54–5–1 | Herol Graham | UD | 12 | Mar 12, 1992 | Pesaro, Italy | Retained European middleweight title |
| 59 | Win | 53–5–1 | Miodrag Perunović | TKO | 4 (12) | Nov 14, 1991 | Palazzo dello Sport, Ancona, Italy | Retained European middleweight title |
| 58 | Win | 52–5–1 | John Ashton | RTD | 6 (12) | Aug 24, 1991 | Pesaro, Italy | Retained European middleweight title |
| 57 | Loss | 51–5–1 | Mike McCallum | SD | 12 | Apr 1, 1991 | Stade Louis II, Fontvieille, Monaco | For WBA middleweight title |
| 56 | Win | 51–4–1 | Miguel Angel Maldonado | PTS | 8 | Nov 24, 1990 | Velletri, Italy | |
| 55 | Win | 50–4–1 | Frederic Seillier | TKO | 9 (12) | Jul 8, 1990 | Parc des Lices, Toulon, France | Retained European middleweight title |
| 54 | Win | 49–4–1 | Francesco Dell'Aquila | TKO | 9 (12) | Jan 24, 1990 | Campobello di Mazara, Italy | Won European middleweight title |
| 53 | Win | 48–4–1 | Reggie Miller | RTD | 1 (8) | Nov 29, 1989 | Pesaro, Italy | |
| 52 | Win | 47–4–1 | Tony Powell | KO | 5 (?) | Oct 7, 1989 | Pesaro, Italy | |
| 51 | Loss | 46–4–1 | Michael Nunn | KO | 1 (12) | Mar 25, 1989 | Hilton Hotel, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. | Lost The Ring middleweight title For IBF middleweight titles |
| 50 | Win | 46–3–1 | Doug DeWitt | TKO | 7 (15) | Nov 8, 1988 | Stade Louis II, Fontvieille, Monaco | Retained WBA and The Ring middleweight titles |
| 49 | Win | 45–3–1 | Robbie Sims | UD | 12 | Jun 12, 1988 | Palazzo Dello Sport, Ravenna, Italy | Retained WBA and The Ring middleweight titles |
| 48 | Win | 44–3–1 | Mike McCallum | UD | 12 | Mar 5, 1988 | Palazzo Dello Sport, Pesaro, Italy | Retained WBA middleweight title |
| 47 | Win | 43–3–1 | Iran Barkley | UD | 15 | Oct 23, 1987 | Palazzo Dello Sport, Livorno, Italy | Won vacant WBA middleweight title |
| 46 | Win | 42–3–1 | Herol Graham | UD | 12 | May 26, 1987 | Wembley Arena, Wembley, England, U.K. | Won European middleweight title |
| 45 | Win | 41–3–1 | Basante Blanco | RTD | 5 (?) | Mar 21, 1987 | Ischia, Italy | |
| 44 | Win | 40–3–1 | Cecil Pettigrew | PTS | 8 | Dec 13, 1986 | Ragusa, Italy | |
| 43 | Win | 39–3–1 | Giovanni De Marco | RTD | 11 (12) | Sep 4, 1986 | Silvi, Italy | Retained Italian middleweight title |
| 42 | Win | 38–3–1 | Cliff Gilpin | PTS | 8 | Mar 15, 1986 | Stade Louis II, Fontvieille, Monaco | |
| 41 | Loss | 37–3–1 | Ayub Kalule | SD | 12 | Dec 19, 1985 | Palazzo dello Sport, Ancona, Italy | For European middleweight title |
| 40 | Win | 37–2–1 | Giovanni De Marco | SD | 12 | sep 26, 1985 | Caserta, Italy | Won Italian middleweight title |
| 39 | Win | 36–2–1 | Donald Bowers | PTS | 8 | Jul 14, 1985 | Stade Louis II, Fontvieille, Monaco | |
| 38 | Win | 35–2–1 | Jose Duarte | PTS | 10 | Apr 27, 1985 | Avellino, Italy | |
| 37 | Loss | 34–2–1 | Duane Thomas | PTS | 10 | Apr 6, 1985 | Ballys Park Place Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 36 | Win | 34–1–1 | Tony Harrison | TKO | 4 (?) | Mar 8, 1985 | Piagge, Italy | |
| 35 | Win | 33–1–1 | Clint Jackson | PTS | 8 | Dec 10, 1984 | Palais Omnisport de Paris-Bercy, Paris, France | |
| 34 | Win | 32–1–1 | Tony Cerda | PTS | 8 | Sep 22, 1984 | Chapiteau de l'Espace, Fontvieille, Monaco | |
| 33 | Win | 31–1–1 | Bobby Hoye | PTS | 8 | Jul 8, 1984 | Perugia, Italy | |
| 32 | Win | 30–1–1 | Allen Alexander | PTS | 8 | Apr 13, 1984 | Pesaro, Italy | |
| 31 | Win | 29–1–1 | Kenneth Styles | TKO | 2 (?) | Feb 18, 1984 | Capo d'Orlando, Italy | |
| 30 | Win | 28–1–1 | Irving Hines | KO | 8 (?) | Dec 9, 1983 | Fano, Italy | |
| 29 | Win | 27–1–1 | Ralph Moncrief | PTS | 8 | Oct 30, 1983 | Sanremo, Italy | |
| 28 | Win | 26–1–1 | James Williams | KO | 1 (?) | Oct 13, 1983 | Pesaro, Italy | |
| 27 | Win | 25–1–1 | Guy Kennedy | TKO | 6 (8) | Sep 3, 1983 | Stadio Municipale, Marsala, Italy | |
| 26 | Win | 24–1–1 | Jimmie Sykes | PTS | 8 | Jul 24, 1983 | PalaEur, Rome, Italy | |
| 25 | Win | 23–1–1 | Wilson Bell | KO | 1 (?) | Apr 10, 1983 | Sanremo, Italy | |
| 24 | Win | 22–1–1 | Bruce Johnson | TKO | 6 (?) | Feb 24, 1983 | Bologna, Italy | |
| 23 | Win | 21–1–1 | Stacy McSwain | TKO | 3 (?) | Dec 22, 1982 | Saint-Vincent, Aosta Valley, Italy | |
| 22 | Win | 20–1–1 | Salvador Perez Ramos | KO | 2 (?) | Dec 10, 1982 | Pesaro, Italy | |
| 21 | Win | 19–1–1 | Buster Drayton | PTS | 8 | Oct 30, 1982 | Teatro Ariston, Sanremo, Italy | |
| 20 | Win | 18–1–1 | Joe Ouru | DQ | 1 (?) | Sep 1, 1982 | Forio d'Ischia, Italy | |
| 19 | Win | 17–1–1 | Jose Quinones | TKO | 2 (?) | May 29, 1982 | Milan, Italy | |
| 18 | Win | 16–1–1 | Costello King | KO | 2 (?) | Apr 2, 1982 | Milan, Italy | |
| 17 | Win | 15–1–1 | Steve Williams | TKO | 2 (?) | Feb 5, 1982 | Bologna, Italy | |
| 16 | Win | 14–1–1 | Gabriele Lazzari | TKO | 6 (?) | Dec 26, 1981 | Bologna, Italy | |
| 15 | Win | 13–1–1 | Jose Lozano | PTS | 8 | Dec 11, 1981 | Milan, Italy | |
| 14 | Win | 12–1–1 | Michel Pagani | KO | 2 (?) | Nov 13, 1981 | Rome, Italy | |
| 13 | Win | 11–1–1 | Sonny Kamunga | KO | 7 (?) | Oct 23, 1981 | Pesaro, Italy | |
| 12 | Win | 10–1–1 | Jose Luis Duran | TKO | 4 (?) | Sep 25, 1981 | Pesaro, Italy | |
| 11 | Win | 9–1–1 | Christian D'Helft | TKO | 3 (?) | Jun 27, 1981 | Pesaro, Italy | |
| 10 | Win | 8–1–1 | Giovanni Martorina | TKO | 1 (?) | May 28, 1981 | Milan, Italy | |
| 9 | Win | 7–1–1 | Christian D'Helft | TKO | 1 (?) | May 15, 1981 | Pesaro, Italy | |
| 8 | Win | 6–1–1 | Damiano Lassandro | TKO | 8 (8) | Apr 17, 1981 | Pesaro, Italy | |
| 7 | Win | 5–1–1 | Giovanni Martorina | PTS | 6 | Mar 20, 1981 | Ancona, Italy | |
| 6 | Win | 4–1–1 | Cosimo Carbone | TKO | 3 (?) | Mar 9, 1981 | Rome, Italy | |
| 5 | Win | 3–1–1 | Christian D'Helft | PTS | 8 | Feb 5, 1981 | Paris, France | |
| 4 | Draw | 2–1–1 | Stephane Ferrara | PTS | 6 | Jan 8, 1981 | Paris, France | |
| 3 | Loss | 2–1 | Aldo Buzzetti | PTS | 8 | Dec 5, 1980 | Piacenza, Italy | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Luigi Marini | TKO | 6 (?) | Oct 24, 1980 | Ancona, Italy | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Esperno Postl | TKO | 7 (8) | Oct 10, 1980 | Wolkersdorf, 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.