Krzysztof Glowacki, whose KSW 83 knockout from his back was one of the most memorable of 2023, has been banned from all sports for four years.
Poland’s [autotag]Krzysztof Glowacki[/autotag], a former WBO champion, has been suspended from all sports for four years after he was found guilty of using an anabolic steroid, U.K. Anti-Doping (UKAD) said Tuesday.
According to Reuters, Glowacki, 37, failed a UKAD-administered drug test following his fourth-round TKO loss to Richard Riakporhe on Jan. 21, 2023 in Manchester, England. His urine sample contained Boldenone, an anabolic androgenic steroid on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) list of prohibited substances.
Glowacki (32-4, 20 KOs) denied knowingly taking a prohibited substance when he received a provisional suspension last April. His case was heard by an independent National-Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) on Oct. 31, and a final decision was reached this week.
While the loss to Riakporhe was his last boxing match, Glowacki’s doping case didn’t stop him from competing in mixed martial arts with Polish promotion KSW. Last June, Glowacki made his professional MMA debut at “KSW 83: Colosseum 2” and landed one of the most memorable finishes of 2023 when he knocked out Patryk Tołkaczewski from his back while mounted.
Glowacki won his first WBO cruiserweight title in a thrilling fight with Marco Huck in 2015 then successfully defended it once before losing the belt to current heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in 2016, the first defeat of his career after starting 26-0.
With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best knockouts from June 2023.
With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best knockouts from June 2023: Here are the five nominees, listed in chronological order, and winner of MMA Junkie’s Knockout of the Month award for June.
At the bottom of the post, let us know if we got it right by voting for your choice.
Watch this rare and spectacular knockout when Krzysztof Glowacki shut the lights out on Patryk Tolkaczewski with a perfect left hook from his back at KSW 83.
Not only is this something you don’t see every day in MMA, this is something you don’t see ever.
At KSW 83 on Saturday in Warsaw, Poland, fans were treated to a rare and spectacular first-round knockout when [autotag]Krzysztof Glowacki[/autotag] shut the lights out on [autotag]Patryk Tolkaczewski[/autotag] with a perfect left hook from his back while he was mounted.
Repeat: Glowacki (1-0) was mounted, on his back, threw up a left hand, and knocked Tolkaczewski (0-1) out cold.
You can watch the crazy finish in the video below (via Twitter):
KNOCKED OUT from FULL MOUNT!
Former WBO cruiserweight champ Krzysztof Głowacki is dangerous from anywhere!!
Mairis Briedis outboxed Yuniel Dorticos to win a majority decision in the final of WBSS cruiserweight tournament on Saturday night.
For Mairis Briedis, it was worth the wait.
Briedis outboxed Yuniel Dorticos to win a majority decision in the delayed final of the World Boxing Super Series cruiserweight tournament on Saturday night in Munich.
Two judges scored it 117-111; the third somehow had it 114-114. Most observers believe Briedis won clearly.
“It feels like a dream come true,” said Briedis, who also took Dorticos’ IBF 200-pound title.
The principals hadn’t fought since their semifinal matches in June, when Briedis (27-1, 19 KOs) stopped Krzysztof Glowacki and Dorticos (24-2, 22 KOs) did the same against Andrew Tabiti to win the vacant title.
The fight was fairly even for the first half of the fight. However, Briedis began to outwork a fading Dorticos in the second half to pull away on the two 117-111 cards.
The title is Briedis’ second. He was stripped of the WBO belt when he chose to fight Dorticos rather than Glowacki a second time.
Winning the tournament seemed more important than the title to Briedis. The WBSS winners are awarded the Ali Trophy.
“This,” Briedis said, “is the Olympic medal I’ve always wanted.”
Mairis Briedis outboxed Yuniel Dorticos to win a majority decision in the final of WBSS cruiserweight tournament on Saturday night.
For Mairis Briedis, it was worth the wait.
Briedis outboxed Yuniel Dorticos to win a majority decision in the delayed final of the World Boxing Super Series cruiserweight tournament on Saturday night in Munich.
Two judges scored it 117-111; the third somehow had it 114-114. Most observers believe Briedis won clearly.
“It feels like a dream come true,” said Briedis, who also took Dorticos’ IBF 200-pound title.
The principals hadn’t fought since their semifinal matches in June, when Briedis (27-1, 19 KOs) stopped Krzysztof Glowacki and Dorticos (24-2, 22 KOs) did the same against Andrew Tabiti to win the vacant title.
The fight was fairly even for the first half of the fight. However, Briedis began to outwork a fading Dorticos in the second half to pull away on the two 117-111 cards.
The title is Briedis’ second. He was stripped of the WBO belt when he chose to fight Dorticos rather than Glowacki a second time.
Winning the tournament seemed more important than the title to Briedis. The WBSS winners are awarded the Ali Trophy.
“This,” Briedis said, “is the Olympic medal I’ve always wanted.”
The World Boxing Super Series cruiserweight final between Mairis Briedis and Yuniel Dorticos will take place on Sept. 26 in Munich.
The World Boxing Super Series cruiserweight final between Mairis Briedis and Yuniel Dorticos will take place behind closed doors at a television studio on Sept. 26 in Munich.
Maris Briedis, the No. 1 seed in the tournament, qualified for the championship match by defeating Noel Mikaelian (UD) and Krzysztof Glowacki (TKO 3). Dorticos, seeded No. 2, beat Mateusz Masternak (UD) and Andrew Tabiti (KO10).
The latter fights took place in June of last year, meaning Briedis (26-1, 19 KOs) and Dorticos (24-1, 22 KOs) will have been out of the ring for more than 15 months.
The Briedis-Dorticos fight was originally scheduled for March 21 but it pushed back to May 16 because of COVID-19. It was then postponed a second time.
“We are very happy about the announcement of the final,” said Briedis, who is from Latvia. “I love the fact that it will be in Munich as it reminds me of every time I went to train with the Klitschko brothers in Germany and the flights were always via Munich. Those are some great memories of the time spent with them there.”
Dorticos a Miami-based Cuban, won a vacant 200-pound title in the Tabiti fight.
“To all my fans worldwide, in Europe and especially in Munich, Germany: I am super happy the World Boxing Super Series final will take place in Munich, Germany, and I will see you all on Saturday, September 26th,” he said.
“The KO Doctor is back and ready to prescribe another dose of pain and take the Muhammad Ali Trophy back to Miami.”
The final will be streamed live on DAZN in the U.S.
The World Boxing Super Series cruiserweight final between Mairis Briedis and Yuniel Dorticos will take place on Sept. 26 in Munich.
The World Boxing Super Series cruiserweight final between Mairis Briedis and Yuniel Dorticos will take place behind closed doors at a television studio on Sept. 26 in Munich.
Maris Briedis, the No. 1 seed in the tournament, qualified for the championship match by defeating Noel Mikaelian (UD) and Krzysztof Glowacki (TKO 3). Dorticos, seeded No. 2, beat Mateusz Masternak (UD) and Andrew Tabiti (KO10).
The latter fights took place in June of last year, meaning Briedis (26-1, 19 KOs) and Dorticos (24-1, 22 KOs) will have been out of the ring for more than 15 months.
The Briedis-Dorticos fight was originally scheduled for March 21 but it pushed back to May 16 because of COVID-19. It was then postponed a second time.
“We are very happy about the announcement of the final,” said Briedis, who is from Latvia. “I love the fact that it will be in Munich as it reminds me of every time I went to train with the Klitschko brothers in Germany and the flights were always via Munich. Those are some great memories of the time spent with them there.”
Dorticos a Miami-based Cuban, won a vacant 200-pound title in the Tabiti fight.
“To all my fans worldwide, in Europe and especially in Munich, Germany: I am super happy the World Boxing Super Series final will take place in Munich, Germany, and I will see you all on Saturday, September 26th,” he said.
“The KO Doctor is back and ready to prescribe another dose of pain and take the Muhammad Ali Trophy back to Miami.”
The final will be streamed live on DAZN in the U.S.
Marco Huck says he wants to experience the feeling of being champion again, this time at heavyweight.
Marco Huck came within a whisker of defeating Alexander Povetkin in a 2012 fight that could’ve led to a shot at a heavyweight title. Eight years later he wants to give it another try.
Huck, a dominating cruiserweight champion from 2009 to 2015, went back down to 200 pounds after the Povetkin fight, had mixed results and took a long break from boxing after a knockout loss to Oleksandr Usyk in the World Boxing Super Series in September 2017.
The 35-year-old Serbian-German has had two nondescript heavyweight fights over the subsequent two-plus years but now, hungry and fit again, he seems serious about giving it a genuine go.
And he would like to pursue a heavyweight title in the United States if that’s possible amid the coronavirus pandemic. He had been working with trainer Andre Rozier in Brooklyn but is currently in Germany.
“I am excited about getting back in the ring soon,” Huck told BoxingScene.com. “I hopefully will be back in action in the coming months. That may be in Germany. We are just waiting for confirmation on this, but it could also be in the United States.
“I feel fresh and healthy. I have put my injuries and other issues behind me now and I am ready to make a charge at the heavyweight division. Everybody knows I am never in a bad fight, so I want to launch an assault on the heavyweight division and be involved in fights with some of the big names at heavyweight.
“If I have to fight in Germany because of the COVID-19 crisis, that is fine with me. I am excited to get back in the ring in the near future, but my plan is to head back to the United States this year to fight over there.”
Huck (41-5-1, 28 KOs) had a rough time when we last saw him on a big stage, losing three times in five cruiserweight fights.
He lost his 200-pound title to Krzysztof Glowacki by 11th-round knockout in a close fight he was winning in August 2015, won a fringe title when he stopped Ola Afolabi in the 10th round six months later, outpointed Dmytro Kucher and then lost back-to-back title fights against Mairis Briedis (unanimous decision) and Usyk.
He says he wants to experience the feeling of being champion again, this time at heavyweight.
“I know how it feels to be a world champion and have to win the belt back,” he said. “I did that in 2016 when I lost the WBO title but then I won back the IBO title. I know I had to dig deep to become a champion again and I did it, so I believe I can do it again.
“Becoming a world champion is amazing but you have to work hard to stay there. When I regained the world title against Ofalabi it was a different feeling, but it was incredible. Training with trainer Andre and trainer Terrence is really fun.
“I love training with Team Havoc in Brooklyn, and I plan to go back there to train with the team and fight in the United States. I am happy to fight any of the big names over there. I know Top Rank has lots of heavyweights, and if I have to beat them to get to the world title, I am happy to do that.
“I want to fight the likes of Tyson Fury. I am still getting better, I know that myself. So if I have to work my way to that fight, I am prepared to do that. It would be a massive fight all over the world. So I want to get the ball rolling to make these big fights happen.”
Mairis Briedis will face Yuniel Dorticos in the final of the WBSS on March 21 at the Arena Riga in Riga, Latvia, Briedis’ hometown.
Mairis Briedis will vie for the World Boxing Super Series cruiserweight championship in a familiar locale.
Briedis will face Yuniel Dorticos in the final of the tournament on March 21 at the Arena Riga in Riga, Latvia, Briedis’ hometown. The fight will be streamed on DAZN.
Briedis (26-1, 19 KOs) defeated Noel Gevor by a unanimous decision in the quarterfinals and then stopped Krzysztof Glowacki in three rounds in the semis to reach the WBSS championship match. Dorticos (24-1, 22 KOs) beat Mateusz Masternak by a unanimous decision and knocked out Andrew Tabiti in 10 rounds.
“I’m really looking forward to the final,” said Briedis, the tournament’s No. 1 seed. “It is fantastic for Latvia to be able to host an event of such magnitude. Millions and millions of eyes worldwide will be watching what’s happening at the Arena Riga on fight night.
“It is going to be a thrilling fight as I’m facing one of the very best cruiserweights on the planet. The stake is so high and both of us are only looking for one thing – to win it all.”
Dorticos, a Cuban emigre, is known for his punching power.
“Briedis, you better prepare yourself for war,” said Dorticos, the No. 2 seed. “Let’s give all the fans around the world a spectacular all-time classic. Come fight night you will know why I’m called the ‘KO Doctor’. The Muhammad Ali Trophy has my name engraved already.”
Oleksander Usyk won the inaugural WBSS cruiserweight tournament to establish himself as the top 200-pounder and then moved up to heavyweight. The winner of the March 21 fight also will be seen as the No. 1 cruiserweight.
Briedis lost a majority decision to Usyk in January 2018, which arguably was the toughest fight of Usyk’s career.
Here are the previous winners of the Muhammad Ali Trophy, signifying the tournament champion:
2018-19: Naoya Inoue, bantamweight 2018-19: Josh Taylor, junior welterweight 2017-18: Aleksandr Usyk, cruiserweight 2017-18: Callum Smith, super middleweight
Mairis Briedis was stripped of his WBO title for refusing to defend against Krzysztof Glowacki in favor of fighting for the WBSS title.
Mairis Briedis had a choice. The once-beaten titleholder could face his mandatory challenger, Krzysztof Glowacki, in a rematch or take on Yunier Dorticos in the final of the World Boxing Super Series.
The Latvian chose the latter, which prompted the WBO to strip him of his belt, according to BoxingScene.com.
Thus, Briedis (26-1, 19 knockouts) is expected to fight Dorticos (24-1, 22 KOs) for the tournament championship and Dorticos’ portion of the 200-pound crown.
Meanwhile, Glowacki is in position to fight for the vacant WBO title. The next-highest-ranked contender is Lawrence Okolie of the U.K.
Briedis stopped Glowacki in the third round of a foul-filled, controversial fight, which was poorly handled by referee Robert Byrd, in June in Riga, Latvia, Briedis’ hometown.
The WBO initially decided to defer to local officials on the legitimacy of the outcome but ordered a rematch within 120 days of the WBSS final, according to BoxingScene.com. The sanctioning body later ordered an immediate rematch after it was learned that neither fighter nor Byrd was licensed by the local commission.
Glowacki (31-2, 19 KOs) is a two-time cruiserweight titleholder.
Krzysztof Głowacki is dangerous from anywhere!! 
