Murat Direkçi - Misplaced Pages

Belgian-Turkish middleweight kickboxer

Murat Direkci

Born	Murat Direkci (1979-07-17) July 17, 1979 (age 45) Antwerp, Belgium
Nationality	Belgian Turkish
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	77 kg (170 lb; 12.1 st)
Division	Middleweight, Super Middleweight
Style	Kickboxing, Muay Thai
Team	Universal Gym

Kickboxing record
Total	88
Wins	69
By knockout	57
Losses	17
By knockout	4
Draws	2

Last updated on: September 27, 2020

Murat Direkci (born 17 July 1975 in Antwerp, Belgium) is a Belgian-Turkish middleweight kickboxer, fighting out of Universal Gym, Antwerp, Belgium.

Early life

Direkci was born in Antwerp, Belgium as the youngest son of three siblings to a family originally from Konya, Derebucak, Turkey. His sister Nuray died at the age of 4 due to a brain tumor, and his brother Ercan died in 2004 as a result of a traffic accident at 29. After completing his school education, Direkci studied at technical school with the intention of becoming an electrician. After a short while, he found a job as a doorman at a nightclub in Antwerp, however, and took up this career.

Career

Direkcu began training in martial arts at the age of 15 and was originally trained by Jan Gooyvaers. In 1999, he began training under Jan Pasztjerik.

After becoming the Belgian, European and World champion in kickboxing and muay Thai, he made his K-1 debut against Fikri Tijarti at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 in Amsterdam in May 2006, winning by technical knockout in round 3. In February the following year, he faced former K-1 world champion Albert Kraus at the K-1 World MAX 2007 Japan Tournament in Tokyo and shocked the world by knocking Kraus out in the first round. After winning two more fights in K-1, over Joerie Mes and Satoruvaschicoba, he took part in the final 16 of the 2008 K-1 World MAX at K-1 World MAX 2008 World Championship Tournament Final 16 in April 2008 but lost to Yoshihiro Sato via decision.

On February 8, 2009, he became the It's Showtime 70MAX Champion by defeating Gago Drago via technical knockout at Fights at the Border presents: It's Showtime 2009 in his hometown of Antwerp. He made his first defence of the title against Morocco's Chahid Oulad El Hadj at It's Showtime 2009 Lommel in October 2009, before losing it to Congolese Muay Thai fighter Chris Ngimbi at Yiannis Evgenikos presents: It's Showtime Athens in December 2010.

Direkci lost a decision to Robin van Roosmalen at It's Showtime 2012 in Leeuwarden on January 28, 2012. Following the fight, he announced his retirement.

He would then come out of retirement, however, to face Nieky Holzken at Glory 2: Brussels on October 6, 2012 in Brussels, Belgium. He apparently decided that he will no longer cut weight for his fights and will fight Holzken at 78 kg as opposed to his usual division of 70 kg. He lost via TKO due to a cut in the second round.

He lost to Canadian prospect Joseph Valtellini via TKO due to corner stoppage in round two at Glory 6: Istanbul in Istanbul, Turkey on April 6, 2013.

In July 2019, Enfusion announced Murat would return after a six year hiatus. Two weeks later, they announced Hafid El Boustati as his opponent. The two of them met during Enfusion 90, with El Boustati winning a split decision.

Titles

2009–10 It's Showtime 70MAX Champion (1 title defence)
2003 World Full Contact Association (W.F.C.A.) Thai-Boxing World Champion -70 kg
2003 Kick-Boxing European Champion
Belgium Champion (7 Times)

Kickboxing record

Kickboxing Record
Date	Result	Opponent	Event	Location	Method	Round	Time
68 Wins (57 (T)KO's, 11 decisions), 17 Losses, 2 Draws
2019-11-02	Loss	Hafid El Boustati	Enfusion Live 90	Antwerp, Belgium	Decision (Unanimous)	3	3:00
2013-04-06	Loss	Joseph Valtellini	Glory 6: Istanbul	Istanbul, Turkey	TKO (corner stoppage)	2
2012-10-06	Loss	Nieky Holzken	Glory 2: Brussels	Brussels, Belgium	TKO (cut)	2
2012-01-28	Loss	Robin van Roosmalen	It's Showtime 2012 in Leeuwarden	Amsterdam, Netherlands	Decision (Majority)	3	3:00
2011-09-24	Loss	Chris Ngimbi	BFN Group & Music Hall presents: It's Showtime "Fast & Furious 70MAX", Quarter Finals	Brussels, Belgium	Decision (Unanimous)	3	3:00
2010-12-11	Loss	Chris Ngimbi	Yiannis Evgenikos presents: It's Showtime Athens	Athens, Greece	Decision (5-0)	5	3:00
Loses his It's Showtime 70MAX Championship.
2010-10-10	Win	Enriko Kehl	Mix Fight Gala 10	Darmstadt, Germany	TKO	1	2:37
2010-05-29	Loss	Artur Kyshenko	It's Showtime 2010 Amsterdam	Amsterdam, Netherlands	Decision (4-1)	3	3:00
2009-11-21	Win	William Diender	It's Showtime 2009 Barneveld	Barneveld, Netherlands	Decision (Unanimous)	3	3:00
2009-10-24	Win	Chahid Oulad El Hadj	It's Showtime 2009 Lommel	Lommel, Belgium	TKO (Doctor Stoppage, Cut)	1
Retains It's Showtime 70MAX Championship.
2009-05-16	Win	Brian Lo-A-Njoe	It's Showtime 2009 Amsterdam	Amsterdam, Netherlands	TKO (Referee Stoppage)	2	N/A
2009-02-08	Win	Gago Drago	Fights at the Border presents: It's Showtime 2009	Antwerp, Belgium	TKO (Referee Stoppage)	1	2:23
Wins inaugural It's Showtime 70MAX Championship.
2008-11-29	Win	Perry Ubeda	It's Showtime 2008 Eindhoven	Eindhoven, Netherlands	Decision (Unanimous)	3	3:00
2008-10-05	Loss	Tarik El Idrissi	Tough Is Not Enough	Rotterdam, Netherlands	TKO (Doctor Stoppage)	2
Fight was for W.I.P.U. "King of the Ring" K-1 Rules super welterweight title -70 kg.
2008-05-24	Loss	Chahid Oulad El Hadj	Gentleman Promotions Fightnight	Tilburg, Netherlands	TKO (Referee Stoppage)	3
2008-04-09	Loss	Yoshihiro Sato	K-1 World MAX 2008 Final 16	Hiroshima, Japan	Decision (Unanimous)	3	3:00
Fails to qualify for K-1 World MAX 2008 Final 8.
2008-03-15	Draw	Faldir Chahbari	It's Showtime 75MAX Trophy Final 2008, Super Fight	's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands	Decision Draw	3	3:00
2007-10-03	Win	Satoruvashicoba	K-1 World MAX 2007 Final, Reserve Fight	Tokyo, Japan	KO (Left Hook)	2	0:39
2007-06-23	Win	Joerie Mes	K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Amsterdam	Amsterdam, Netherlands	TKO (Doctor Stoppage)	1	1:40
2007-03-24	Draw	Salah Edine Ait Naceur	It's Showtime Trophy 2007, Super Fight	Lommel, Belgium	Decision Draw	3	3:00
2007-02-05	Win	Albert Kraus	K-1 World MAX 2007 Japan Tournament	Tokyo, Japan	KO (Left Hook)	1	1:27
2006-11-12	Win	Ray Staring	2H2H Ahoy	Rotterdam, Netherlands	TKO (Doctor Stoppage)
2006-05-13	Win	Fikri Tijarti	K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 in Amsterdam	Amsterdam, Netherlands	TKO (Referee Stoppage)	3	2:10
2006-02-03	Win	Abdil Boukari	WFCA Gala	Roosendaal, Netherlands	Decision	5	3:00
2005-11-13	Loss	Faldir Chahbari	WFCA Thai-Kickbox Gala	Nijmegen, Netherlands	Decision (Unanimous)	5	3:00
Fight was for W.F.C.A. Thai-boxing junior middleweight European title -69.85 kg.
2005-09-25	Win	Roland Vörös	Thaiboxing Gala, Arenahal	Deurne, Belgium	TKO	2
2005-06-12	Loss	Gago Drago	It's Showtime 2005 Amsterdam	Amsterdam, Netherlands	Decision (Unanimous)	5	3:00
2005-04-30	Win	Melvin Rozenblad	Queens Fight Night	Eindhoven, Netherlands	KO
2004-02-28	Win	Janos Szenasi	Thaiboxing Gala	Mons, Belgium	Decision (Unanimous)	5	3:00
2004-01-12	Win	Nadir Larecht	Fights at the Border III	Lommel, Belgium	KO	1
2003-10-18	Win	Anthony Bassnett	Gala in Deurne	Deurne, Belgium	TKO	3
Wins W.F.C.A. Thai-Boxing World title -70kg.
Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest Notes