Eduard Gafencu Explained

Eduard Gafencu
Other Names:The Blitz
Birth Date:9 February 1993
Birth Place:Arad, Romania
Fighting Out Of:Arad, Romania
Weight:77kg (170lb)
Team:Blitz Team (2021-present)[1]
Years Active:2017–present
Kickbox Win:17
Kickbox Kowin:12
Kickbox Loss:7
Kickbox Koloss:2
Kickbox Draw:0
Box Win:3
Box Kowin:2
Box Loss:0
Box Draw:0
Boxrec:857290
Updated:June 13, 2024

Eduard Gafencu (born February 9, 1993) is a Romanian kickboxer and former boxer. He currently competes in the Welterweight division for Glory. Gafencu is the first fighter to become a two-division Colosseum Tournament champion, holding titles in two weight classes simultaneously. He has also competed for Dynamite Fighting Show (DFS).

As of 18 August 2020, he is the #14 ranked welterweight in the world, according to the International Professional Combat Council (IPCC).[2]

Early life

Gafencu played soccer from 7 to 14 years old, but quit after an injury. He also practiced swimming. Gafencu then started boxing at the age of 15, but after a short while he switched to kickboxing. At the age of 16 and a half, he had his first fight and practiced kickboxing until the age of 21, culminating in a three-year hiatus.[3]

Professional kickboxing career

Gafencu entered the professional circuit in 2017, after being initiated by the coach Gabriel Moț from Top Fighters Club and taken over from Arnold Nagy (Metalbox) by the Ruben Stoia Boxing Club.[4]

Colosseum Tournament

Gafencu competed for various regional Romanian promotions, in the process amassing a record of 6–0.

In 2018, Gafencu had signed a contract with the Colosseum Tournament. He took part in a four-man super welterweight tournament to determine the Colosseum Tournament's first Colosseum Tournament World Super Welterweight Champion.

Gafencu faced Adrian Cibu on September 17, 2018, in the semi-final of the Super Welterweight Tournament. He won the fight in emphatic fashion via knockout in round one to progress to the final round of the tournament. Gafencu faced Leonard Dorin's student Adelin Mihăilă at Colosseum Tournament 8 in the finals. Gafencu won the match via knockout in the third round. The triumph also earned Gafencu his first Performance of the Night award.[5]

Gafencu faced Flavius Boiciuc on December 14, 2018, at Colosseum Tournament 10. He won the fight via unanimous decision.[6]

Gafencu faced the Fight Institute by Peter Aerts's Thomas Doeve on March 29, 2019, at Colosseum Tournament 11. He won the fight via knockout in round one.[7] [8] [9] This win earned him his second Performance of the Night award.[10] The tornado kick knockout has been also acknowledged by sites like Sherdog, MMA Fighting, MMAjunkie.com and others as the potential Knockout of the Year for 2019.[11] [12] [13] [14]

Gafencu moved down to the welterweight division. He faced the Bonjasky Academy's Ekrem Doruk for the inaugural Colosseum Tournament World Welterweight Championship on May 9, 2019, in the main event of Colosseum Tournament 12. He won the fight via knockout in the second round, becoming the first Colosseum Tournament fighter to win titles in two weight classes. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award for a third time.[15] [16]

Dynamite Fighting Show

On January 23, 2020, it was announced that Gafencu had signed a deal with Dynamite Fighting Show.[17]

In his debut fight for the promotion, Gafencu faced the Hemmers Gym's Benjamin Masudi on March 5, 2020, at Dynamite Fighting Show 7. Eduard Gafencu knocked down Masudi twice in the fight. He won the fight via unanimous decision.[18]

Return to Colosseum Tournament

In September 2020, it was announced that Gafencu signed a deal to return to the Colosseum Tournament.[19]

In his return bout, Gafencu was expected to face Adelin Mihăilă in rematch on October 23, 2020, at Colosseum Tournament 20. However on October 6, it was announced that Mihăilă pulled out due to his COVID-19 recovery, and he was replaced by Alexandru Ianţoc. Gafencu won the fight via knockout in the second round.[20] [21]

Gafencu faced Anghel Cardoş in a 3-round non-title on February 26, 2021, at Colosseum Tournament 23.[22] He lost the fight via decision. The result was seen as highly controversial.[23]

Following his first professional loss, Gafencu returned to face Flavius Boiciuc at Colosseum Tournament 25. He won the fight by unanimous decision.[24]

Fighting style

In 2019, Gafencu earned public praise from Romanian legend Daniel Ghiță for his ring performances. He was described by Ghiță as "a highly talented kickboxer".[25]

On October 23, 2020, Gafencu proposed to Carmen Rus at Colosseum Tournament 20. They have one son.[26]

Championships and accomplishments

Kickboxing

Kickboxing record

|- style="background:#fbb;"| 2024-06-13|| Loss ||align=left| Alexandru Amariței || K-1 Fighting Network Romania 2024 || Galați, Romania || TKO (leg injury) || 1 || 2:58 || 17-7|- style="background:#fbb;"| 2023-10-07 || Loss ||align=left| Teodor Hristov || Glory 89 || Burgas, Bulgaria || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 17-6|-|- style="background:#fbb;"| 2023-09-22 || Loss ||align=left| Ștefan Orza || Dynamite Fighting Show 20 - Welterweight Championship Tournament, Semi Finals || Bucharest, Romania || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 17-5|-|- style="background:#fbb;"| 2023-06-17|| Loss ||align=left| Diaguely Camara || Glory: Collision 5 || Rotterdam, Netherlands || TKO (knee) || 2 ||2:24 || 17-4|-|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 2023-03-12 || Win ||align=left| Mădălin Crăciunică || DFS 18 - Welterweight Championship Tournament, Quarter Finals || Timișoara, Romania || TKO (three knockdowns) || 1 || 2:50 || 17-3|- |- style="background:#fbb;"| 2022-08-18 || Loss ||align=left| Alexandru Amariței || Colosseum Tournament 34 || Brașov, Romania || Decision (unanimous) || 5 || 3:00 || 16-3|-! style=background:white colspan=9 | |-|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 2022-05-09 || Win ||align=left| Robert Gontineac || Colosseum Tournament 31 || Arad, Romania || TKO (towel thrown) || 2 || 1:24 || 16-2|- |- style="background:#fbb;"| 2022-04-08 || Loss ||align=left| Joakim Hägg || Colosseum Tournament 30 || Malmö, Sweden || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 15-2|- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 2021-09-20 || Win ||align=left| Anghel Cardoş || Colosseum Tournament 27 || Oradea, Romania || Decision (unanimous) || 5 || 3:00 || 15-1|-! style=background:white colspan=9 | |-|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 2021-05-31 || Win ||align=left| Flavius Boiciuc || Colosseum Tournament 25 || Cluj-Napoca, Romania || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 14-1|-|- style="background:#fbb;"| 2021-02-26 || Loss ||align=left| Anghel Cardoş || Colosseum Tournament 23 || Bucharest, Romania || Decision (majority) || 3 || 3:00 || 13-1|-|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 2020-10-23 || Win ||align=left| Alexandru Ianţoc || Colosseum Tournament 20 || Arad, Romania || KO (jumping knee) || 2 || 2:25 || 13-0|-|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 2020-03-05 || Win ||align=left| Benjamin Masudi || DFS 7 || Arad, Romania || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 12-0|- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 2019-05-09 || Win ||align=left| Ekrem Doruk || Colosseum Tournament 12 || Arad, Romania || KO (jumping knee and punches) || 2 || 2:13 || 11-0|-! style=background:white colspan=9 ||-|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 2019-03-29 || Win ||align=left| Thomas Doeve || Colosseum Tournament 11 || Bucharest, Romania || KO (tornado kick) || 1 || 2:19 || 10-0|-! style=background:white colspan=9 ||-|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 2018-12-14 || Win ||align=left| Flavius Boiciuc || Colosseum Tournament 10 || Timișoara, Romania || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 9-0|- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 2018-09-17 || Win ||align=left| Adelin Mihăilă || Colosseum Tournament 8, Final || Bucharest, Romania || KO (right hook & double left hook) || 3 || 0:22 || 8-0 |-! style=background:white colspan=9 ||-|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 2018-09-17 || Win ||align=left| Adrian Cibu || Colosseum Tournament 8, Semi-final || Bucharest, Romania || KO (flurry of punches) || 1 || 2:57 || 7-0 |-! style=background:white colspan=9 ||-|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 2018-01-28 || Win ||align=left| Paul Crețiu || Fighters League 2 || Reșița, Romania || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 6-0 |-|-| colspan=9 | Legend:

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
2Win2–0 Corneliu Lisii4 (4) 28 June 2019
1Win1–0 Titusz Szabó1 (4), 17 November 2018

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Edi Gafencu a pierdut al doilea meci al carierei. 2022-04-08. Sport Arad. Romanian.
  2. https://www.facebook.com/IPCCpromotions/photos/3129212093842696 IPCC WORLD RANKING 78.1KG - Kickboxing (K1 Rules)
  3. Web site: Povestea sportivului Eduard Gafencu. Arădeanul a ajuns și în presa din Vietnam datorită luptelor din ring. 2019-04-05. ziardearad.ro. Romanian.
  4. Web site: Cu Ruben Stoia și Eduard Gafencu în sala-simbol a BOXULUI ARĂDEAN. 4 March 2019 . 2021-02-12. Critic Arad. Romanian.
  5. Web site: Video KO spectaculos la Colosseum Tournament. Victorie românească în main event . Digi Sport. 17 September 2018. Romanian.
  6. Web site: Results for Colosseum Tournament Kickboxing from Timisoara, Romania 14.12.2018. FightBox. 10 March 2020.
  7. Web site: Results for Colosseum Tournament Kickboxing XI 29.03.2019 from Bucharest, Romania. FightBox. 8 March 2020.
  8. Web site: Colosseum Tournament XI: Ghita Demolishes Vondracek. Kickboxing Z. 2019-03-29.
  9. Web site: BRUTAL: Tornado Kick KO. Kickboxing Z. 2019-03-31.
  10. Web site: Arădeanul Eduard Gafencu a semnat un acord cu Dynamite Fighting Show . Ziar de Arad. 24 January 2020. Romanian.
  11. Web site: Kickboxing Highlight Video: Eduard Gafencu Knocks Thomas Doeve Out Cold with Tornado Kick. 2019-03-29. Sherdog.
  12. Web site: Video: Eduard Gafencu lands spectacular tornado kick knockout. 2019-03-29. MMA Fighting.
  13. Web site: This nasty tornado kick knockout from Colosseum IX may take the weekend . 2019-03-29. MMAjunkie.com.
  14. Web site: Colosseum: "Tornado Kid" Returns in May. 2019-04-07. kickboxingz.com.
  15. Web site: Results: Gafencu, Mincu Win Titles at Colosseum Tournament XII. Kickboxing Z. 2019-05-09.
  16. Web site: Colosseum Tournament XII - LIVE from Arad, Romania 09.05.2019. 2019-06-09. fightbox.com.
  17. Web site: Dynamite Announces David vs Goliath 2, Signs Top Romanian Prospect. Kickboxing Z. 2020-01-24.
  18. Web site: DFS 7: David vs Goliath 2 Results. Kickboxing Z. 2020-03-05.
  19. Web site: "Tornado Kid" Gafencu Returning to Colosseum. Kickboxing Z. 2020-10-09.
  20. Web site: Colosseum Tournament: Dey Grand Prix Results. Kickboxing Z. 2020-10-23.
  21. Web site: Results for Colosseum Tournament Kickboxing from Arad, Romania 23.10.2020. FightBox. 2020-11-12.
  22. Web site: Cardos Says He'll KO Gafencu at Colosseum XXIII. Kickboxing Z. 2021-02-11.
  23. https://kickboxingz.com/colosseum-tournament-23-results Colosseum Tournament XXIII: RESULTS
  24. News: Arădeanul Gafencu l-a bătut la puncte pe deveanul Boiciuc, la Gala Coloseum de la Timișoara. 17 December 2018. Glasul Aradului. ro.
  25. Web site: Daniel Ghiță, unicul campion român de kickbox, le dă în freză lui Moroșanu și Zmărăndescu . 7 May 2020 . 2020-05-07. Evenimentul Zilei. Romanian.
  26. News: Edi Gafencu și-a cerut iubita de soție după KO-ul asupra lui Ianțoc. 23 October 2020. Sport Arad. ro.
  27. Web site: Video KO spectaculos la Colosseum Tournament. Victorie românească în main event. 2018-09-17. Digi Sport. Romanian.
  28. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=742746154549690&set=pcb.742746264549679
  29. https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=742746051216367&set=pcb.742746264549679