Constantin Rusu

Constantin Rusu
Born (1994-05-17) May 17, 1994 (age 30)[1]
Chișinău, Moldova
NicknameLioncrusher
Height180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight77 kg (170 lb; 12.1 st)
DivisionWelterweight
Reach180 cm (71 in)
StyleKickboxing
StanceOrthodox
Fighting out ofChișinău, Moldova
Iași, Romania
TeamLion Fight Academy
Scorpions Iași
Years active2016–present
Kickboxing record
Total33
Wins25
By knockout9
Losses7
By knockout3
Draws1

Constantin Rusu (born May 17, 1994) is a Moldovan kickboxer, currently competing in the lightweight division of ONE Championship. He is the former KOK and FEA welterweight champion. A professional competitor since 2016, Rusu has also competed for Colosseum Tournament and Dynamite Fighting Show in Romania.

He was ranked as a top-ten welterweight kickboxer in the world by Beyond Kick between November 2022 and December 2023.[2][3]

Kickboxing career

King of Kings

Rusu faced Denis Apavaloae at KOK Hero's World Series on September 30, 2017.[4] He won the fight by a first-round knockout. Rusu next faced Pavel Pravashynski at KOK World GP 2017 In Moldova on December 9, 2017. He once again won the fight by first-round stoppage, as he knocked Pravashynski out with a flurry of punches at the 1:37 minute mark.[5]

These two victories earned him a place in the 2018 King of Kings welterweight "Hero's Tournament", which took place on March 24, 2018.[6][7] Rusu faced Matteo Calzetta in the semifinals of the one-day tournament and beat him by unanimous decision. He advanced to the finals, where he faced his countryman Dorel Cristian. Rusu won the fight and the tournament title by a narrow split decision.[8]

Rusu faced the two-time World Boxing Council Muaythai champion Cheick Sidibé in an 80 kilogram bout at the July 4, 2018, Tatneft Cup event. He won the fight by unanimous decision.[9][10] Rusu made his second consecutive Tatneft Cup appearance against Victor Monfort on August 24, 2018, once again in an 80 kilogram bout. He won the fight by unanimous decision.[11]

Rusu was expected to face the reigning King of Kings Welterweight (-77 kg) champion Zaurs Džavadovs at KOK Fight Series 2018 in Riga on October 27, 2018. The pair previously fought in the finals of the 2017 KOK Hero's welterweight tournament, with Džavadovs winning their first meeting by unanimous decision.[12] Džavadovs withdrew from the bout on October 26, due to problems with his vision, and was stripped of the belt. Džavadovs was diagnosed with diplopia a few months before the title fight was supposed to take place. As his condition worsened in the days leading up to the fight, he wasn't cleared to compete at the pre-fight medical check.[13] Rusu was rescheduled to face Latvian Aleksejs Marizihins for the vacant title at the same event. He won the fight by unanimous decision.[14]

FEA

Rusu made his FEA Fighting Entertainment Association promotional debut against Chico Kwasi at FEA World Series 27 on December 8, 2018.[15] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[16]

Rusu was then placed in the 2018 FEA Welterweight tournament, held to crown the FEA Welterweight (-77 kg) champion. He faced Alan Scheinson in the semifinals of the one-day tournament at FEA 28 on March 30, 2019.[17] He won the fight by a second-round technical knockout, forcing a referee stoppage with a flurry of punches at the 1:53 minute mark. Rusu faced Dorel Cristian in the finals. He previously fought Cristian in the finals of the 2018 KOK Hero's Welterweight Tournament, when was able to beat him by split decision. Rusu was more convincing in the rematch, as he was needed just 53 seconds to knock his opponent out.[18]

Rusu faced Ricardo Fernades for the vacant WKL Middleweight (-75 kg) K-1 title at Fighting Championship Events on June 8, 2019. He won the fight by decision.[19]

Rusu moved down in weight in order to take part in the 2019 FEA Lightweight tournament. He was booked to face Furkan Karabag in the semifinals of the one-day tournament, which took place on August 17, 2019.[20] Although Rusu was able to beat Karabag by split decision,[21] he suffered a decision loss to Zhora Akopyan in the finals. The bout with Akopyan was ruled a draw after the first three rounds were contested, but a unanimous decision was awarded to the Armenian fighter after an extra fourth round was fought.[22]

Rusu was stripped of the King of Kings Welterweight (-77 kg) Championship on December 2, 2019, due to inactivity.[23]

Rusu faced Pavel Grishanovich at FEA: Keep Grinding 2 on December 7, 2019.[24] He won the fight by unanimous decision. Rusu faced Mina Manoli at FEA Kickboxing: Reset on March 13, 2021, following a fifteen-month absence from the sport. He won the fight by unanimous decision.[25]

Dynamite Fighting Show

In December 2021, it was reported that Robin Ciric, who had been slated to co-headline DFS 13 show against Florin Lambagiu on December 15, had tested positive for COVID-19, and that Rusu would be stepping in for Ciric.[26][27] Rusu won the fight by an upset unanimous decision.[28] He was nominated for a Debut of the Year award by the promotion.[29]

ONE Championship

Rusu faced Marouan Toutouh in his ONE Championship debut at ONE 158 on June 3, 2022. He won the fight by unanimous decision. Rusu scored the sole knockdown of the fight in the first round, as he dropped Toutouh with a spinning backfist.[30]

Rusu faced Islam Murtazaev at ONE 162 on October 21, 2022, stepping in as a short-notice replacement for Nieky Holzken, who withdrew with an injury.[31] At the weigh-ins, Rusu failed hydration test and was forced to take a catchweight, coming in at 173.25 lbs, 3.25 pounds over the limit.[32][33] Rusu won the fight by unanimous decision.[34]

Rusu faced Bogdan Shumarov at ONE Fight Night 12 on July 14, 2023.[35] He lost the fight by a third-round knockout.[36]

Rusu faced Eduard Saik for the vacant RCC Welterweight (-77 kg) title at RCC 17 on December 15, 2023. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[37]

Rusu was expected to face Dani Traoré at SENSHI 21 on April 20, 2024.[38] Traore later withdrew and was replaced by Nikola Cvetkovic. Rusu won the fight by unanimous decision.[39]

Championships and accomplishments

Kickboxing record

Kickboxing record
25 Wins (9 (T)KO's), 7 Losses, 1 Draw, 0 No Contests
Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time
2024-12-07 Loss Italy Michael Samperi SENSHI 24 Varna, Bulgaria TKO (High kick) 2 3:00
2024-04-20 Win Serbia Nikola Cvetković SENSHI 21 Varna, Bulgaria Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2023-12-15 Loss Russia Eduard Saik RCC 17 Yekaterinburg, Russia Decision (Unanimous) 5 3:00
For the vacant RCC Welterweight (-77 kg) title.
2023-07-14 Loss Bulgaria Bogdan Shumarov ONE Fight Night 12 Bangkok, Thailand TKO (Head kick) 3 1:33
2022-10-21 Win Russia Islam Murtazaev ONE 162 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2022-06-03 Win Morocco Marouan Toutouh ONE 158 Kallang, Singapore Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2021-12-15 Win Romania Florin Lambagiu Dynamite Fighting Show 13 Bucharest, Romania Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2021-10-23 Loss Russia Vasilii Semenov RCC 17 Yekaterinburg, Russia Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2021-03-13 Win Moldova Mina Manoli FEA Kickboxing: Reset Chișinău, Moldova Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2019-12-07 Win Ukraine Pavel Grishanovich FEA: Keep Grinding 2 Chișinău, Moldova Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2019-08-17 Loss Armenia Zhora Akopyan FEA WGP, -71 kg Tournament Final Odesa, Ukraine Ext.R Decision (Unanimous) 4 3:00
For the vacant FEA Lightweight (-71 kg) title.
2019-08-17 Win Turkey Furkan Karabağ FEA WGP, -71 kg Tournament Semifinal Odesa, Ukraine Decision (Split) 3 3:00
2019-06-08 Win Portugal Ricardo Fernandes Fighting Championship Events Lisbon, Portugal Decision 5 3:00
Won the WKL Middleweight (-75 kg) title.
2019-03-30 Win Moldova Dorel Cristian FEA 28, Welterweight Tournament Final Chișinău, Moldova TKO (Referee stoppage) 1 0:53
Won the vacant FEA Welterweight (-77 kg) title.
2019-03-30 Win Argentina Alan Scheinson FEA 28, Welterweight Tournament Semifinal Chișinău, Moldova TKO (Punches) 2 1:53
2018-12-08 Win Netherlands Chico Kwasi FEA 27 Chișinău, Moldova Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2018-10-27 Win Latvia Aleksejs Marizihins KOK Fight Series 2018 in Riga Riga, Latvia Decision (Unanimous) 5 3:00
Won the vacant KOK Welterweight (-77 kg) title.
2018-08-24 Win Spain Victor Monfort Tatneft Cup Kazan, Russia Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2018-07-04 Win France Cheick Sidibé Tatneft Cup, -80 kg Prestige Fight Kazan, Russia Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2018-03-24 Win Moldova Dorel Cristian KOK 36 Hero's World Series, Welterweight Tournament Final Chișinău, Moldova Decision (Split) 3 3:00
Won the KOK Welterweight (-77 kg) Hero's Tournament title.
2018-03-24 Win Italy Matteo Calzetta KOK 36 Hero's World Series, Welterweight Tournament Semifinal Chișinău, Moldova Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2017-12-09 Win Belarus Pavel Pravashynski KOK World GP 2017 In Moldova Chișinău, Moldova TKO (Punches) 1 1:37
2017-09-30 Win Moldova Denis Apăvăloae KOK Hero's World Series Chișinău, Moldova KO (Body shot) 1 1:45
2017-08-23 Win Russia Sahab Vagapov Akhmat Fight Show Kazan, Russia KO (Body kick)
2017-07-14 Win Romania Adrian Cibu Colosseum Tournament 3: Romania vs. Germany Constanța, Romania KO (Knee to the body) 2 2:02
2017-06-17 Win Romania Alin Cîmpan Colosseum Tournament 2 Ploiești, Romania Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2017-04-01 Win Romania Emilian Sîngeorzan Colosseum Tournament 1 Ploiești, Romania TKO (Referee stoppage) 2 3:00
2017-02-25 Loss Latvia Zaurs Džavadovs KOK Hero's Series 2017 In Riga, Welterweight Tournament Finals Riga, Latvia Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
For the KOK Welterweight (-77 kg) Hero's Tournament title.
2017-02-25 Win United Kingdom Danny Richards KOK Hero's Series 2017 In Riga, Welterweight Tournament Semifinals Riga, Latvia TKO (Referee stoppage) 1 1:10
2016-12-10 Draw Moldova Andrei Terenti KOK World GP 2016 Moldova Chișinău, Moldova Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2016-09-06 Loss Russia Dmitry Menshikov TATNEFT CUP, -80 kg Tournament Quarter Final Russia TKO (Straight Right) 2 2:25
2016-03-20 Win Romania Cezar Buzdugan GP Tracia 33 Cluj-Napoca, Romania Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

See also

References

  1. ^ "CONSTANTIN RUSU (КОНСТАНТИН РУСУ)". sportnetwork.pro. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  2. ^ "Rankings November 2022". beyondkick.com. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  3. ^ "Kickboxing Rankings January 2024". Beyond Kickboxing - The Home of Kickboxing. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  4. ^ "Gala KOK: Constantin Rusu îşi va măsura puterile cu Denis Apăvăloae". publika.md. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  5. ^ "2017年12月9日KOK 53期摩尔多瓦站 – [视频]KOK WORLD GP 2017". hula8.net. 19 January 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  6. ^ "În goana după centură! Rusu şi Cristian se vor lupta sâmbătă la Gala KOK". hellrun.md. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  7. ^ ""Regele" RUSU, încrezător! Sportivul moldovean va lupta la gala KOK de la Chişinău". publika.md. Archived from the original on 1 October 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Constantin Rusu: "I Want to be a Champion and Idol" (With Grisha Zeigermaher)". kickboxingz.com. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  9. ^ "Tatneft Cup : la réaction de Massinissa Hamaili". headkicknews.com. Archived from the original on 2 October 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  10. ^ "Victorie clara pentru Constantin Rusu la Kazan. Luptatorul K1 din Moldova l-a invins in cadrul turneului din Rusia pe un francez". protv.md. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  11. ^ "Constantin Rusu continua goana dupa trofeul Tatneft". protv.md.
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  14. ^ a b "Rusu Wins Title at KOK 61". kickboxingz.com. Archived from the original on 2 October 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
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  20. ^ "ANTRENAMENT DE K-1 ÎN APĂ. Rusu şi Vetrilă se pregătesc de turneul de la Odesa". publika.md. Archived from the original on 1 October 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  21. ^ "Kickboksörlerimizle Ukrayna'da Bir Sevindik Üç Üzüldük! Zhuravlev'e Şansımız Tutmuyor!". fightclub.com.tr. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
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  24. ^ Dziubicki, Daniel. "Wasieniow i Rusu z wygranymi przed czasem na FEA: Keep Grinding 2 (WYNIKI)". madfight.pl. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  25. ^ "FEA Reset Welterweight Category. Mina Manoli Vs Constantin Rusu Highlights". fea.md. 19 July 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  26. ^ "Turneu pentru centura lui Moroșanu. "Cred că e afectat de lovituri, nu-și mai aduce aminte că l-am învins!"". Prosport (in Romanian). 20 November 2021.
  27. ^ "Former Enfusion Champ Ciric Battles Rambo at Dynamite Fighting Show 13". Archived from the original on 2022-10-03. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
  28. ^ Surpriză imensă în duelul Rambo al Moldovei vs Constantin Rusu
  29. ^ a b "NOMINALIZĂRILE PENTRU DFS AWARDS 2021" (in Romanian). Dynamite Fighting Show. 28 December 2021.
  30. ^ "ONE 158 Results: Tawanchai Knocks Out Larsen In Round 2". combatpress.com. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  31. ^ "More ONE 162 Fight Card Changes". fightsports.tv. 17 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  32. ^ "ONE Championship 162 weigh-ins and hydration test results". South China Morning Post. 2022-10-20. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  33. ^ Strobel, Kevin. "ONE 162 Weigh-in Results". Beyond Kickboxing - The Home of Kickboxing. Retrieved 2022-10-21.
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  35. ^ Richards, Vince (6 June 2023). "Constantin Rusu set to face Bogdan Shumarov in lightweight kickboxing at ONE Fight Night 12". sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  36. ^ "ONE on Prime Video 12 Highlight Video: Bogdan Shumarov Crushes Constantin Rusu with Head Kick". sherdog.com. 14 July 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  37. ^ Gorshkova, Ana (15 December 2023). "Сайк победил Русу и стал новым чемпионом RCC в полусреднем весе". sport-express.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  38. ^ "Dani Traore is coming for a second victory at SENSHI 21 against Constantin Rusu". BOEC.COM. 29 March 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  39. ^ "Константин Русу надигра Никола Цветкович на SENSHI 21". Boec.BG - онлайн медия за бойни спортове (in Bulgarian). 20 April 2024. Retrieved 20 April 2024.