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.
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WINS
14
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LOSES
2
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DRAW
0
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kOs
13
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WEIGHT
232 lbs
(105,2 Kg) -
HEIGHT
6’4.5”
(194 cm) -
REACH
76.4”
(194 cm)
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Trainer
Frank Greaves
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Born
16 november 1996
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Born in
London, uk
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nation
British
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residence
London, UK
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KO Percentage
92.86%
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Stance
Orthodox
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Rounds
44
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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
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