Cyril Benzaquen (born 2 October 1989) is a French Muay Thai fighter and kickboxer. He is the current

ISKA The ISKA (originally International Sport Karate Association, later also called the International Sport Kickboxing Association) is one of the major international bodies regulating sport karate and kickboxing matches, and is based in the United ...

World Light Heavyweight Oriental Rules champion. As an amateur, Benzaquen twice medaled at the

World Muaythai Federation The World Muaythai Federation was formed in 1995 by the Professional Boxing Association of Thailand (PAT). The PAT is the only organization officially recognized by the Thai government. The WPMF was founded to promote and support Muaythai worldwid ...

World Championships and once at the IFMA European Championships.

Personal life

Cyril works as a model, and has achieved a BAC + 5 at the University of Paris Dauphine. He is of Moroccan-Jewish origin and of "traditionalist" Jewish faith. After obtaining a scientific baccalauréat, he continued his studies at the IUT of Sceaux where he obtained a DUT in

marketing Marketing is the process of exploring, creating, and delivering value to meet the needs of a target market in terms of goods and services; potentially including selection of a target audience; selection of certain attributes or themes to emph ...

. He then joined Paris-Dauphine University in a management license adapted to high-level athletes, then in a traditional management license, from which he graduated respectively in 2011 and 2013. He obtained a

master's degree A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice.

in marketing in 2014 and a master's degree in entrepreneurship in 2015. For his end-of-studies project, supported by the It Agency, he organized the Dauphine Boxing Tour.

Martial arts career

Early career

Benzaquen made his professional debut against Didier Charlesege at La Nuit Des Combattants on May 22, 2010. He won the fight by unanimous decision. He suffered his first professional loss in his very next fight, as Raphael Mebenga beat him by unanimous decision at France Vs Thaïlande : Mabel Vs Saiyoke on October 29, 2010. Benzaquen rebounded by winning his next four fights: he beat Alassane Sy by decision at La Bataille De L'Ile De France on December 10, 2010, Willy Prophete by decision at VXS Kickboxing Show on April 23, 2011, René Dione at La Nuit du Kick Boxing on November 26, 2011, and Manuel Romero at Kick-Boxing Show on October 13, 2012. He fought to a draw with Arthur Kouane at Konateam Cup on May 21, 2012. Benzaquen's four-fight winning streak was snapped by a two-fight losing skid, as he dropped decisions to Francis Tavares at VXS Niglo New Concept on May 11, 2013, and Malik Aliane at Boxing Factory Trophy 2013 on May 25, 2013. He split wins and losses in his next two appearances, as he stopped Giorgio Galasso with a spinning backfist at Lion Promotion & NCA Web on December 1, 2013, but lost a decision to Djibril Ehouo at Grande Soirée de la Boxe on February 1, 2014. Benzequan's victory over René Dione at Demi-Finales Nationales Japan Kick on April 5, 2014, earned him the chance to fight Abderrahim Chafay for the FFSCDA -81 kg title at Night Fighter 1 on April 26, 2014. He captured his first professional title by a second-round technical knockout.

ISKA Light heavyweight champion

Benzaquen faced Adelino Boa Morte for the vacant ISKA World Oriental Rules Light Heavyweight (-81.5 kg) championship at Dauphine Boxing Tour on November 27, 2015. He captured the title by unanimous decision. This victory earned Benzaquen his Glory debut, as he was booked to face Cédric Tousch at Glory 28: Paris on March 12, 2016. He lost the fight by unanimous decision. Benzaquen made his first ISKA Light heavyweight title defense against Kevin Ward at Cavalaire Kickboxing Show on May 28, 2016. He retained the title by unanimous decision. Benzaquen then made two non-title bout appearances at Super Muaythai events. He first overcame Chase Walden by unanimous decision on August 12, 2016, which he followed up by another unanimous decision victory against Denis MuaythaiAcademy on February 4, 2017. Benzaquen made his ACB debut against

Alexander Stetsurenko Alexander Yuryevich Stetsurenko (russian: Александр Юрьевич Стецуренко; born April 20, 1983) is a Russian welterweight kickboxer. He is a three time Tatneft Cup tournament winner, Kunlun Fight tournament winner and W5 ...

at ACB KB 13: From Paris with war on March 25, 2017. He won the fight by unanimous decision. Benzaquen made his second ISKA World Oriental rules title defense against Mbamba Cauwenbergh at Triumph Fighting Tour on June 22, 2017. He retained the title by unanimous decision. Benzaquen challenged Elijah Bokeli for the WAKO-Pro World K-1 Light heavyweight title at Triumph Fighting Tour on November 30, 2018. He lost the fight by unanimous decision. Bezaquen made his third ISKA title defense against Daniel Frigola at Triumph Fighting Tour on June 13, 2019. He won the fight by unanimous decision. Benzaquen made his third ISKA title defense against Ioannis Sofokleous at Triumph Fighting Tour on December 12, 2019. He retained the title by unanimous decision. Benzaquen made his sixth

title defense in a match against

Florin Lambagiu Florin Lambagiu (born 8 April 1996) is a Romanian professional kickboxer, former sambist and mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the super middleweight division of the Dynamite Fighting Show (DFS), where he is the former D ...

on May 31, 2022, at

Grand Palais Éphémère The Grand Palais Éphémère is a temporary exhibition hall in the Champ de Mars by architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte. The 10,000 m2 hall opened in 2021 and is meant to be dismantled in 2024. Its purpose is to host exhibitions while the Grand Palais ...

in Paris, France. He won the fight via unanimous decision, which was found very controversial by several media outlets. The

International Sport Karate Association The ISKA (originally International Sport Karate Association, later also called the International Sport Kickboxing Association) is one of the major international bodies regulating sport karate and kickboxing matches, and is based in the United ...

commission eventually denied Lambagiu's appeal, but ordered a rematch within twelve months. On May 22, 2023, it was revealed that Lambagiu tested positive for undisclosed

performance enhancing drug Performance-enhancing substances, also known as performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), are substances that are used to improve any form of activity performance in humans. A well-known example of cheating in sports involves doping in sport, where bann ...

s on May 31, 2022 prior to ''Kickboxing Prestige''. Lambagiu was subsequently banned from competing in France for four years.

Championships and accomplishments

Professional

**2015 ISKA Oriental Rules Kickboxing World Champion (One time, current) ***Five successful title defenses

Amateur

** 2010 WMF World Championships (-81 kg) ** 2012 WMF World Championships (-81 kg) *

International Federation of Muaythai Associations The International Federation of Muaythai Associations, or IFMA, called the International Federation of Muaythai Amateur until 27 July 2019, is the sole recognised sport governing body of amateur and professional Muay Thai and Muay boran consist ...

** 2013 IFMA European Championships B-class (-81 kg) *World Kickboxing Federation ** 2013 WKF European K-1 Championships (-81 kg) ** 2014 WKF World K-1 Championships (-81 kg)

Kickboxing record

, - style="background:#cfc;" , 2022-05-31 , , Win , , align=left,

, , Kickboxing Prestige , ,

Paris, France Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. Si ...

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 5 , , 3:00 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2021-07-08 , , Win , , align=left, Angelo Mirno , , Soiree Kickboxing Prestige , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2019-12-12, , Win , , align=left, Ioannis Sofokleous , , Triumph Fighting Tour , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 5 , , 3:00 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2019-06-13, , Win , , align=left, Daniel Frigola , , Triumph Fighting Tour , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 5 , , 3:00 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - style="background:#fbb;" , 2018-11-30, , Loss , , align=left, Elijah Bokeli , , Triumph Fighting Tour , ,

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 5 , , 3:00 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - style="background:#fbb;" , 2018-08-04, , Loss , , align=left, Giuseppe De Domenico , , Fight Night Saint-Tropez, Tournament Finals , , Saint-Tropez,

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2018-08-04, , Win , , align=left, Erik Matejovsky , , Fight Night Saint-Tropez, Tournament Semifinals , , Saint-Tropez,

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - , - style="background:#fbb;" , 2018-05-05, , Loss , , align=left, Djibril Ehouo , , Capital Fights 3 , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - , - style="background:#c5d2ea;" , 2018-04-08, , Draw , , align=left, Wendy Annonay , , Duel 3 , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - , - style="background:#c5d2ea;" , 2018-02-24, , Draw , , align=left, Darryl Sichtman , , ACB KB 13: From Paris with war , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - , - style="background:#fbb;" , 2017-12-09, , Loss , , align=left, Rémy Vectol , , Golden Fight , ,

Levallois-Perret Levallois-Perret () is a commune in the Hauts-de-Seine department and Île-de-France region of north-central France. It lies some from the centre of Paris in the north-western suburbs of the French capital. It is the most densely populated ...

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - , - style="background:#fbb;" , 2017-11-17, , Loss , , align=left, Malik Aliane , , Warriors Night , ,

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), ma ...

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2017-06-22, , Win , , align=left, Mbamba Cauwenbergh , , Triumph Fighting Tour , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 5 , , 3:00 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2017-03-25, , Win , , align=left,

, , ACB KB 9: Showdown in Paris , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2017-02-04, , Win , , align=left, Denis MuaythaiAcademy , , Super Muaythai , ,

Bangkok, Thailand Bangkok, officially known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estimated populati ...

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2016-08-12, , Win , , align=left, Chase Walden , , Super Muaythai , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2016-05-28, , Win , , align=left, Kevin Ward , , Cavalaire Kickboxing Show , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 5 , , 3:00 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - , - style="background:#fbb;" , 2016-03-12, , Loss , , align=left, Cédric Tousch , , Glory 28: Paris , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2015-11-27, , Win , , align=left, Adelino Boa Morte , , Dauphine Boxing Tour , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 5 , , 3:00 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2015-02-21 , , Win , , align=left, Reda Hameur-Lain , , Le Choc des Best Fighters 3 , ,

Asnières-sur-Seine Asnières-sur-Seine () is a commune in the Hauts-de-Seine department and Île-de-France region of north-central France. It lies on the left bank of the river Seine, some eight kilometres from the centre of Paris in the north-western suburbs of ...

, , TKO (Retirement) , , 2 , , 3:00 , - , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2014-04-26 , , Win , , align=left, Abderrahim Chafay , , Night Fighter 1 , ,

Toulouse Toulouse ( , ; oc, Tolosa ) is the prefecture of the French department of Haute-Garonne and of the larger region of Occitania. The city is on the banks of the River Garonne, from the Mediterranean Sea, from the Atlantic Ocean and from Pa ...

, , TKO (Punches) , , 2 , , , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2014-04-05 , , Win , , align=left, René Dione , , Demi-Finales Nationales Japan Kick , ,

Groslay Groslay () is a commune in the Val-d'Oise department in Île-de-France in northern France. It is located 15 km north of Paris, the capital. Boundaries The commune is bounded with Montmorency, Saint-Brice-sous-Forêt, Sarcelles, Deuil-l ...

, , Decision , , 3 , , 3:00 , - , - style="background:#fbb;" , 2014-02-01 , , Loss , , align=left, Djibril Ehouo , , Grande Soirée de la Boxe , , La Riche,

, , Decision , , 3 , , 3:00 , - , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2013-12-01 , , Win , , align=left, Giorgio Galasso , , Lion Promotion & NCA Web , ,

Trieste Trieste ( , ; sl, Trst ; german: Triest ) is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is the capital city, and largest city, of the autonomous region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, one of two autonomous regions which are not subdivided into prov ...

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

, , KO (Spinning backfist) , , 4 , , , - , - style="background:#fbb;" , 2013-05-25, , Loss , , align=left, Malik Aliane , , Boxing Factory Trophy 2013 , ,

Colomiers Colomiers (; oc, Colomèrs; Languedocien dialect: ''Colomièrs'') is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in the Occitania region in Southwestern France. With a population of 39,968 as of 2019, it is the largest suburb of the city of Toul ...

, , Decision , , 5 , , 3:00 , - , - style="background:#fbb;" , 2013-05-11 , , Loss , , align=left, Francis Tavares , , VXS Niglo New Concept , , Montpellier,

, , Decision , , 3 , , 3:00 , - , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2012-10-13 , , Win , , align=left, Manuel Romero , , Kick-Boxing Show , ,

Saint-Paul-de-Vence Saint-Paul-de-Vence (, literally ''Saint-Paul of Vence''; oc, Sant Pau de Vença; it, San Paolo di Venza) is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of Southeastern France. One of the oldest medie ...

, , Decision , , 3 , , 3:00 , - , - style="background:#c5d2ea;" , 2012-05-21 , , Draw , , align=left, Arthur Kouane , , Konateam Cup , , Villiers-sur-Marne,

, , Decision , , 3 , , 3:00 , - , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2011-11-26 , , Win , , align=left, René Dione , , La Nuit du Kick Boxing , ,

Les Mureaux Les Mureaux () is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. It is located in the north-western suburbs of Paris, from the centre of Paris. Population Transport Les Mureaux is served by Les ...

, , Decision , , 3 , , 3:00 , - , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2011-04-23 , , Win , , align=left, Willy Prophete , , VXS Kickboxing Show , , Persan,

, , Decision , , 3 , , 3:00 , - , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2010-12-10 , , Win , , align=left, Alassane Sy , , La Bataille De L'Ile De France , ,

Nanterre Nanterre (, ) is the prefecture of the Hauts-de-Seine department in the western suburbs of Paris. It is located some northwest of the centre of Paris. In 2018, the commune had a population of 96,807. The eastern part of Nanterre, bordering t ...

, , Decision , , 3 , , 3:00 , - , - style="background:#fbb;" , 2010-10-29, , Loss , , align=left, Raphael Mebenga , , France Vs Thaïlande : Mabel Vs Saiyoke , ,

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 5 , , 3:00 , - , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2010-05-22 , , Win , , align=left, Didier Charlesege , , La Nuit Des Combattants , , Persan,

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - , colspan=9 , ''Legend'': , - style="background:#cfc" , 2014-03-23 , , Win , , align=left, Luis Bernica , , 2014 WKF World Championships, Tournament Final , , Pattaya,

Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...

, , Decision , , 3 , , 2:00 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - , - style="background:#cfc" , 2014-03-22 , , Win , , align=left, Mandel de Jesus , , 2014 WKF World Championships, Tournament Semifinal , , Pattaya,

, , Decision , , 3 , , 2:00 , - , - style="background:#cfc" , 2013-11-02 , , Win , , align=left, Henrich Pavel , , 2013 WKF European Championships, Tournament Final , ,

Bregenz Bregenz (; gsw, label= Vorarlbergian, Breagaz ) is the capital of Vorarlberg, the westernmost state of Austria. The city lies on the east and southeast shores of Lake Constance, the third-largest freshwater lake in Central Europe, between Switze ...

Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...

, , Decision , , 3 , , 2:00 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - , - style="background:#cfc" , 2013-10-30 , , Win , , align=left, Milan Pokermi , , 2013 WKF European Championships, Tournament Semifinal , ,

, , Decision , , 3 , , 2:00 , - , - style="background:#cfc" , 2013-10-28 , , Win , , align=left, Thomas Gute , , 2013 WKF European Championships, Tournament Quarterfinal , ,

, , Decision , , 3 , , 2:00 , - , - style="background:#fbb" , 2012-03-24 , , Loss , , align=left, Richard Jocr , , 2012 WMF World Championships, Tournament Final , ,

, , Decision , , 3 , , 2:00 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - , - style="background:#cfc" , 2012-03-23 , , Win , , align=left, Somtos Losta , , 2012 WMF World Championships, Tournament Semifinal , ,

, , Decision , , 3 , , 2:00 , - , - style="background:#cfc" , 2012-03-22 , , Win , , align=left, Natan Borovitsky , , 2012 WMF World Championships, Tournament Quarterfinal , ,

, , Decision , , 3 , , 2:00 , - , - style="background:#fbb" , 2010-03-23 , , Loss , , align=left, Pavel Revtovich , , 2010 WMF World Championships, Tournament Final , ,

, , Decision , , 3 , , 2:00 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - , - style="background:#cfc" , 2010-03-22 , , Win , , align=left, Roberto Martullo , , 2010 WMF World Championships, Tournament Semifinal , ,

, , Decision , , 3 , , 2:00 , - , - style="background:#cfc" , 2010-03-21 , , Win , , align=left, Alessandro Lopez , , 2010 WMF World Championships, Tournament Quarterfinal , ,

, , Decision , , 3 , , 2:00 , - , colspan=9 , ''Legend'':

Professional boxing record

References

External links

Cyril Benzaquen at Muaythai TV

Cyril Benzaquen at Global Fight Center
{{DEFAULTSORT:Benzaquen, Cyril French male kickboxers 1989 births People from Clamart French Muay Thai practitioners Living people Sportspeople from Hauts-de-Seine