Thomas Essomba (born 2 December 1987) is a Cameroonian-British
professional boxer
Professional boxing, or prizefighting, is regulated, sanctioned boxing. Professional boxing bouts are fought for a purse that is divided between the boxers as determined by contract. Most professional bouts are supervised by a regulatory autho ...
who held the
Commonwealth flyweight
Flyweight is a weight class in combat sports.
Boxing
Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing above 49 kg (108 lb) and up to 51 kg (112 lb).
Professional boxing
The flyweight division was the last of b ...
title from 2015 to 2017. As an
amateur he represented Cameroon at the
2012 Olympics, reaching the round of 16 of the
light-flyweight
Light flyweight, also known as junior flyweight or super strawweight, is a Weight class (boxing), weight class in boxing.
Professional boxing
The weight limit at light flyweight in professional boxing is 108 pounds (49 kilograms). When New York (s ...
bracket.
Career
Essomba fought in two Olympic games for the Cameroon boxing team;
at the 2012 Olympics in London, he was captain of the team and reached the last 16 of the light-flyweight division, being defeated by
Paddy Barnes
Patrick Gerard Barnes (born 9 April 1987) is an Irish former boxer who competed as an amateur from 2005 to 2016 and as a professional from 2016 to 2019. As an amateur he competed in the light-flyweight division, representing Ireland at the 200 ...
.
He defected in London, was given
political asylum
The right of asylum (sometimes called right of political asylum; ) is an ancient juridical concept, under which people persecuted by their own rulers might be protected by another sovereign authority, like a second country or another ent ...
and indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom, and became a British citizen soon after.
He resettled in
Sunderland, where he has trained at the Olympian Gym.
In his professional career, he won the Commonwealth flyweight title in October 2015 and the English bantamweight title in March 2018.
Achievements
*2019 WBA Continental bantamweight title
*2018 English bantamweight title
*2015 Commonwealth flyweight title
*2015 International Masters Bronze super-flyweight title
*2012 Second Olympic participation, London, England
[
*2012 Cameroon champion, best sportsman, first Cameroon Award.
*2011 AIBA World Championship ranking: 20
*2011 African Confederation ranking: 1]
Professional boxing record
See also
* Cameroon at the 2008 Summer Olympics#Boxing
References
External links
*
Data
1987 births
Living people
Light-flyweight boxers
Olympic boxers of Cameroon
Commonwealth Games competitors for Cameroon
Boxers at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
Boxers at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Boxers at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Cameroonian male boxers
African Games gold medalists for Cameroon
African Games medalists in boxing
African Games bronze medalists for Cameroon
Competitors at the 2007 All-Africa Games
Competitors at the 2011 All-Africa Games
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