Sorin Căliniuc

Sorin Mihai Căliniuc (born 12 July 1996) is a Romanian professional kickboxer and Olympic boxer, and former kempo practitioner.[1] He currently competes in the Colosseum Tournament, in which he is the reigning champion of the lightweight and super lightweight divisions. Căliniuc is also world kempo champion and multiple national and Romanian Cup boxing champion.

Sorin Căliniuc
Căliniuc in August 2021
BornSorin Mihai Căliniuc
(1996-07-12) July 12, 1996
Bucharest, Romania
Other namesBabyface
NationalityRomanian
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight70 kg (150 lb; 11 st)
DivisionLight middleweight (2018–present)
Middleweight (2020)
Fighting out ofBucharest, Romania
TeamMMA Estéfano Team
TrainerEstéfano Tănăsescu Popescu
Years active2018–present
Kickboxing record
Total9
Wins9
By knockout0
Losses0
Draws0
Other information
Boxing record from BoxRec
Medal record
Men's amateur boxing
Representing the  Romania
Romania Boxing Championships
2021 Târgu Mureș80 kg
2020 Iași75 kg
Romanian Boxing Cup
2022 Piatra Neamț75 kg
2020 Arad75 kg
Men's kempo
Representing the  Romania
IKF World Kempo Championships
2016 Bucharest75 kg
IKF European Kempo Championships
2017 Bucharest80 kg
last updated on: April 8, 2022

Professional kickboxing career

Early career

Căliniuc practiced judo from 4 to 15 years old. He then started kickboxing at the age of 17, but not at a professional level. Căliniuc worked simultaneously as a casino security guard until he met coach and promoter Estéfano Tănăsescu Popescu who enrolled him to a gym.[2][3]

Wins over Milea, Salvador and Dzhaniev

With a background of being IKF world kempo champion, Căliniuc began his kickboxing career by winning his first four fights by decision.[4] He initially fought for SAS Gym (a Bucharest-based kickboxing promotion), where he won the SAS Gym 01 and the SAS Gym 02 tournaments.[5][6]

Căliniuc faced Bogdan Costan on November 2, 2018, in the semifinals of the Lightweight Tournament at SAS Gym 01. Căliniuc won the fight via unanimous decision to progress to the final round of the tournament. He then faced Colosseum Tournament World Lightweight Champion Cristian Milea in the finals. Căliniuc defeated Milea via unanimous decision.[5]

Căliniuc faced former Glory lightweight championship challenger Dylan Salvador on June 13, 2019, in the semifinals of the Lightweight Tournament at SAS Gym 02. Căliniuc won the fight via split decision to progress to the final round of the tournament. He then faced Muay Thai standout Khayal Dzhaniev in the finals. Căliniuc defeated Dzhaniev via unanimous decision.[6]

Colosseum Tournament

In December 2020, it was announced that Căliniuc had signed a multi-fight deal with Colosseum Tournament.[7]

Căliniuc faced Colosseum Tournament world lightweight champion Andrei Ostrovanu on December 18, 2020, at Colosseum Tournament 22.[8] Căliniuc defeated Ostrovanu via unanimous 3-round decision to become the inaugural Colosseum Tournament World Super Lightweight Champion.[9]

Two-division champion

In January 2021, it was officially announced that Căliniuc next bout would be against former ISKA world middleweight champion Gabriel Bozan for the vacant Colosseum Tournament World Lightweight Championship on 26 February at Colosseum Tournament 23.[10] Căliniuc dominated the fight and won via unanimous 5-round decision to become the Colosseum Tournament World Lightweight Champion.[11]

In April 2021, Colosseum Tournament announced that Căliniuc would make his first defence of his lightweight title against former KOK lightweight champion Vitalie Matei at Colosseum Tournament 25 on 31 May in Cluj-Napoca.[12] He won the fight via unanimous 5-round decision.[13]

Căliniuc vs. Koprivlenski

Căliniuc was scheduled to defend his title for the second time against former Glory Lightweight Contender Tournament Winner Stoyan Koprivlenski on September 20, 2021 at Colosseum Tournament 27.[14] He retained his championship, being declared the winner via split decision.[15]

Personal life

Căliniuc is a Christian.[16][17]

He said his model is Daniel Ghiță.[2] Căliniuc is inspired by Abdulrashid Sadulaev.[18]

He is a fan of Steaua București.[18]

Championships and accomplishments

Kickboxing
  • Colosseum Tournament
    • Colosseum Tournament World Lightweight Championship (One time, current)
      • Two successful title defenses
    • Colosseum Tournament World Super Lightweight Championship (One time, current)
  • SAS Gym

Kempo

Boxing
  • Romanian Boxing Federation
    • 2022 Romanian Boxing Cup −75.0 kg[20]
    • 2021 Romania National Boxing Championships −80.0 kg[21]
    • 2020 Romania National Boxing Championships −75.0 kg[22]
    • 2020 Romanian Boxing Cup −75.0 kg[23]

Professional kickboxing record
Kickboxing record
9 wins (0 KOs), 0 losses, 0 draws
Date Result OpponentEventLocation MethodRoundTimeRecord
2022-04-08Win Sami LamiriColosseum Tournament 30: Căliniuc vs. LamiriMalmö, SwedenDecision (unanimous)33:009-0-0
2021-09-20Win Stoyan KoprivlenskiColosseum Tournament 27: Căliniuc vs. KoprivlenskiOradea, RomaniaDecision (split)53:008-0-0
Defended the Colosseum Tournament World Lightweight Championship.
2021-05-31Win Vitalie MateiColosseum Tournament 25: Căliniuc vs. MateiCluj-Napoca, RomaniaDecision (unanimous)53:007-0-0
Defended the Colosseum Tournament World Lightweight Championship.
2021-02-26Win Gabriel BozanColosseum Tournament 23: Căliniuc vs. BozanBucharest, RomaniaDecision (unanimous)53:006-0-0
Won the vacant Colosseum Tournament World Lightweight Championship.
2020-12-18Win Andrei OstrovanuColosseum Tournament 22: Ostrovanu vs. CăliniucBucharest, RomaniaDecision (unanimous)33:005-0-0
Won the inaugural Colosseum Tournament World Super Lightweight Championship.
2019-06-13Win Khayal DzhanievSAS Gym 02, FinalBucharest, RomaniaDecision (unanimous)33:004-0-0
Won the SAS Gym 02 Lightweight Tournament.
2019-06-13Win Dylan SalvadorSAS Gym 02, SemifinalsBucharest, RomaniaDecision (split)33:003-0-0
2018-11-02Win Cristian MileaSAS Gym 01, FinalBucharest, RomaniaExtra round decision (unanimous)43:002-0-0
Won the SAS Gym 01 Lightweight Tournament.
2018-11-02Win Bogdan CostanSAS Gym 01, SemifinalsBucharest, RomaniaDecision (unanimous)33:001-0-0
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

See also

References
  1. "Sorin Caliniuc". boxrec.com. Retrieved 2020-03-16.
  2. "Un jucător de la FCSB a șocat campionul național de kickboxing" (in Romanian). Gazeta Sporturilor. 22 January 2018.
  3. "Povestea lui Sorin Caliniuc, noul star al României din ring!" (in Romanian). Gazeta Sporturilor. 20 November 2018.
  4. "Anuarul Sportului 2016" (PDF) (in Romanian). Ministry of Youth and Sport. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  5. "SAS GYM Legendele Piramidei! Sorin Caliniuc castiga marea piramida" (in Romanian). Pro X. 13 June 2019.
  6. "CE VICTORIE! Caliniuc castiga gala FAST AND FURIOS la debut!" (in Romanian). Pro X. 2 November 2018.
  7. "Andrei Ostrovanu luptă vineri seară, în direct la Digi Sport, în main-event-ul galei Colosseum Tournament" (in Romanian). GazetaSV.ro. 16 December 2020.
  8. "Colosseum Tournament Kickboxing XXII "Clash of Heroes" - LIVE from Bucharest, Romania 18.12.2020". FightBox. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  9. "Results for Colosseum Tournament XXII "Clash of Heroes" from Bucharest, Romania 18.12.2020". FightBox. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  10. "Colosseum Tournament: Caliniuc vs Bozan in February". kickboxingz.com. 19 January 2021.
  11. Contreras, Fernando (27 February 2021). "Giorgio Petrosyan derrota a Davit Kiria en ONE: Fists of Fury y Eduard Gafencu pierde su invicto en Colosseum Tournament XXIII". patadaalta.com (in Spanish).
  12. "Big Event Planned for Colosseum Tournament XXV". kickboxingz.com. 10 April 2021.
  13. "Results for Colosseum Tournament XXV from Cluj-Napoca, Romania 31.05.2021". FightBox. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  14. "Surpriză majoră pentru "elevii" lui Iordănescu! Fotbaliștii FCSB-ului, vizitați la antrenamente de un campion mondial" (in Romanian). Pro X. 17 September 2021.
  15. "Стоян Копривленски загуби битката си в Румъния" (in Bulgarian). Sportal. 22 September 2021.
  16. "Povestea lui Sorin Caliniuc" (in Romanian). Pro X. 8 June 2019.
  17. "Meet Sorin Caliniuc: Rising Romanian Champ". kickboxingz.com. 11 April 2021.
  18. "Sorin "Babyface" Căliniuc, noua senzație din kickboxingul românesc" (in Romanian). fanatik.ro. 17 April 2021.
  19. "Cupa Europeana de Kempo 2017, Editia a 10-a" (in Romanian). frkempo.ro. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  20. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr98Tcc7FAY
  21. "BOX. Campionii sunt la Dinamo" (in Romanian). csdinamo.eu. 28 November 2021.
  22. "Box. Dinamo – 10 medalii la Naționalele de seniori Iași 2020. Andrei Arădoaie și Cristian Filip, campioni" (in Romanian). csdinamo.eu. 9 February 2020.
  23. "BOX. Cristian Filip și Sorin Mihai Caliniuc au câștigat Cupa României la seniori" (in Romanian). csdinamo.eu. 7 December 2020.
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