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DavidAdeleye

“Big D”

English Heavyweight Champion

Known as ‘Big D’, the Lion of Ladbroke Grove, David Adeleye, is right on the cusp of breaking into the heavyweight Big League.

 The 28-year-old, with just one blot on his professional copybook, became British champion last time out, having previously secured the English title belt.

 Next up, he will perform for the second time in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on August 16 in a fight that, if successful, will confirm his elite heavyweight credentials.

  • WINS

    14

  • LOSES

    2

  • DRAW

    0

  • kOs

    13

  • WEIGHT

    232 lbs
    (105,2 Kg)

  • HEIGHT

    6’4.5”
    (194 cm)

  • REACH

    76.4”
    (194 cm)

  • Trainer

    Frank Greaves

  • Born

    16 november 1996

  • Born in

    London, uk

  • nation

    British

  • residence

    London, UK

  • KO Percentage

    92.86%

  • Stance

    Orthodox

  • Rounds

    44

  • Debut

    21 December 2019

Records and Accolades

Adeleye currently presides over a professional record of 14-1, with 13 of those wins coming via KO, which strongly indicates his punching prowess.

He was unveiled by Frank Warren towards the end of 2019 and his rise was seamless and he added a title to his resume in early 2023 with an emphatic knockout of the previously unbeaten Dmytro Bezus to seize the WBO European belt, a prize he successfully defended against the 12-1 Emir Ahmatovic in June of the same year.

Those impressive victories positioned him as mandatory challenger for the British title which, at the time, was in the possession of the also undefeated Fabio Wardley.

The stage was set for Saudi Arabia and the opening of Riyadh Season in the October, but tensions rose in a bad-tempered build-up when the pair clashed at the press conference and Wardley was left with cuts by his eye and under his chin. The now grudge match was placed in doubt until Wardle declared himself good to go.

Ultimately, Wardley prevailed in a bruising collision with Adeleye put down and then stopped in the seventh round.

Major Achievements

He then took time out to regroup and appointed celebrated coach Adam Booth as his main trainer and the new double-act enjoyed a successful opening night together when Adeleye brutally parted Sol Dacres from his English title with a stunning first round knockout.

Big D was back in business with his customary swagger and, when Wardley vacated his belt, he and Jeamie TKV Tshikeva were matched in search of the bounty. Back in business and Adeleye promised business as usual when he went up against his long-time sparring partner.

Adeleye knocked over and stopped Tshikeva in the sixth round, but his victory was not without controversy, due to confusion over Adeleye being accused of landing the decisive blow after the referee had called break.

 All that aside, Adeleye now and forever will hold the distinction of having become British heavyweight champion.

Achievements

The Londoner was a Junior ABA champion in 2013 and won the Senior ABA Novices in 2017 before winning the Senior ABAs the following year.

He also represented England in an international against Denmark in 2018 and romped to gold at the British Universities and Colleges Sport Boxing Championships.

During his amateur career, he studied at the University of Wolverhampton, where he graduated in 2019 with a degree in Business Management.

Fighting Style and technique

Adeleye is a textbook heavyweight who does most things well and possesses strong fundamentals. He is certainly explosive with the ability to bring the equaliser into play when things are not all going his way.

Booth, formerly trainer to David Haye, will refine Adeleye’s sometimes rugged approach and enhance his strong points, while perhaps working
on his mobility and smart movement.  

Adeleye employs a strong jab from the orthodox stance, but probably one of his most key assets is his strength of mind and personality in the ring, which sets him apart from the pack.

Impact and Popularity

What quickly became obvious when Adeleye made his professional debut in 2019 against Dmitrij Kalinovskij at the Copper Box Arena was that he already enjoyed a considerable supporter base.

Many, many hundreds of fans were there roaring him on and he quickly obliged them with a bludgeoning first round stoppage.

 Britain had yet another heavyweight force ready to break through.

Influence and Persona

Adeleye, in person, is a cheery, charming and charismatic individual with an endearing trait of liking to enquire over the thinking of others over his performances and prospects.

 In fight mode, Adeleye has upped the ante, even though he claims he simply reciprocates the energy that comes his way from opponents. He showed a different side to his public persona in the build-up to the Wardley fight and is quickly becoming a heavyweight who will generate headlines, good or bad.

Future Prospects and Upcoming Fights

On August 16 in Riyadh, Adeleye will step up to world level when he takes on former IBF No.1 contender and Croatian Olympian Filip Hrgovic.

Fighting History

Loss

10 Round UD

Filip Hrgovic

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

16 Aug 2025

Win

6 Round TKO

Jeamie Tshikeva

Co-Op Live Arena, Manchester, UK

Vacant British Heavyweight Championship

5 April 2025

Win

1 round tko

Solomon Dacres

Wembley arena, London, UK

British Heavyweight Championship

7 Dec 2024

Loss

7 round tko

Fabio Wardley

Boulevard Hall, Riyadh, Saudi Arabi

British, Commonwealth, WBO European Heavyweight Championship

28 oct 2023

Win

5 round rtd

Emir Ahmatovic

York Hall, London, UK

WBO European Heavyweight Championship

9 jun 2023

Win

2 round tko

Dmytro Bezus

York Hall, London, UK

Vacant WBO European Heavyweight Championship

17 feb 2023

Win

2 round ko

Elvis Garcia

York Hall, London, UK

11 nov 2023

Win

4 round tko

Chris Healey

Wembley stadium, London, UK

23 apr 2023

Win

4 round rtd

Dominik Musil

York Hall, London, UK

12 Nov 2023

Win

4 round tko

Mladen Manev

Wembley arena, London, UK

24 jul 2021

win

6 round pts

Kamil Sokolowski

York Hall, London, UK

24 apr 2021

win

1 round KO

Dave Preston

Copper Box Arena, London, UK

26 Mar 2021

win

2 round TKO

Danny Whitaker

Church House, Westminster, UK

28 Nov 2020

win

3 round TKO

Phil Williams

BT Sport Studio, Stratford, UK

29 Aug 2020

win

2 round TKO

Matt Gordon

BT Sport Studio, Stratford, UK

10 Jul 2020

win

1 round TKO

Dmitrij Kalinovskij

Copper Box Arena, Stratford, UK

21 Dec 2019