Dennis Ceylan Fact File
Glynn Evans delivers all you need to know on the Dane who fronts up to local favourite Josh Warrington in a clash of unbeaten featherweights, in the BoxNation screened IBF final eliminator at the First Direct Arena in Leeds on October 21st.
- Dennis Villy Ceylan was born in the town of Hoje Taastrup, on the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark on the 3rd March 1989. He is 28.
- Today, the father to a nine year old daughter and seven year old son lives with his girlfriend in Aarhus, Denmark’s second largest city.
- At the age of eight, Dennis was removed from the broken family home due to his mother’s drug addictions. He spent much of his childhood in institutions, ‘in an environment surrounded by drugs and crime.’
- He began boxing at the age of nine after being inspired by the ‘Rocky’ movies. At the age of 11, he linked up with coach Frank Holm who continues to train him today.
- As an amateur, Dennis won four successive Danish national titles (2008-11) plus the 2010 Nordic championship.
- In 2011, he competed in the World Series of Boxing for the German based Leipzig Leopards.
- In April 2012, Ceylan secured his slot for the 2012 London Olympics by reaching the semi-finals of the European Qualifying meet in Trabzon, Turkey.
- Competing in the 56 kg bantamweight class at the London Games, he lost on points (21-6) at the last 16 stage to Ireland’s silver medallist John Joe Nevin.
- Ceylan concluded his amateur career with a record of approximately 100 wins and 30 losses.
- In September 2012, the Dane turned professional with Team Sauerland of Germany.
- The first blemish on Ceylan’s pro CV came in his 13th start when he was held to an eight round draw by Christian Montilla in Erfurt, Germany. He cleaned up his card, by avenging the Spaniard by seventh round stoppage in his homeland six months later.
- Prior to reaching championship level, the two most notable scalps on his record were Russia’s ex IBF Super-Flyweight champ Dmitry Kirillov (pts10, March 2015) and Columbia’s ex WBO Featherweight challenger Walter Estrada (rsf2, December 2015).
- In October 2016, he was dropped heavily by a right uppercut in the opening session of a vacant EBU featherweight title clash with Ryan Walsh but rose from the only knockdown of his career to out bustle the Cromer switcher and nick a tight 12 round split decision at the Arena Nord in Frederikshavn.
- Ceylan saw off another Brit, Morecombe’s reigning Commonwealth king Isaac Lowe, in his opening defence in Aarhus, albeit fortuitously. After a fractious build-up, he retained via a four round technical draw after the combatant’s bumped heads, leaving Ceylan with a split left lid. The Dane was ahead on all cards at the conclusion. Lowe’s cousin Tyson Fury was a ringside observer.
- At 5ft 9in, Ceylan is tall for a featherweight. He fights out of the orthodox stance and his ring attributes include a decent jab, high punch output and aggressive mindset. He likes to walk opponents down and ‘mix it up’ with them.
- Ceylan’s professional record presently rests at 18-0-2, with eight victories by stoppage. He is presently world rated by both the WBO (13) and the IBF (6).
- His contest with Warrington is a final eliminator for the IBF title held by Barry’s Lee Selby.
- Ceylan’s CV shows 113 rounds but he has only contested two 12 round fights and only completed the championship trip once (against Walsh). Conversely, Warrington has trained for nine 12 rounders and negotiated the full course on five occasions.
- Though he has not fought in the UK before as a pro, Ceylan has fought in Germany on three occasions plus once in Iceland.
- Rather predictably, Dennis’ nickname is ‘The Menace’ and he frequently wears red and black ring shorts.
- Away from the ring, he enjoys playing soccer and spending time with his children.
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