Willy Kyakonye, WBF World Heavyweight Champion From Netherlands Nobody Knows

By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent

Leeuwarden, Netherlands At 12-0 with 11 knockouts, relatively unknown Willy Kyakonye, originally from Kampala, Uganda, now fighting out of Leeuwarden, Netherlands, is the current WBF World Heavyweight champion. A former WBF International Heavyweight regional champion, Kyakonye won the vacant WBF World Heavyweight title with a first-round knockout of Wilmer Vazquez in Leeuwarden in May 2025. Since then, Kyakonye defended his WBF world title with a first-round knockout of Renke Wittke in Amsterdam on October 20, 2025.

Known as ‘The Ring Tiger’, Kyakonye has never fought outside of the Netherlands. Kyakonye, in a deeper sense, falls into the category of rising undefeated heavyweights who require higher-level promotion to get better matches outside the regions where their professional careers began. Kyakonye is clearly worthy of better-level opposition, which will only happen if their careers take off to the point where they can sign with better-known promoters.

 An analysis of Kyakonye’s early bouts on YouTube reveals he is a stronger counter-puncher with left-hand and right-hand leads, and uses his uppercuts effectively with pinpoint accuracy. His opponents have been, for the most part, journeyman heavyweights of limited ability. Kyakonye is good at cutting off the ring and finishing his opponents. The Vazquez bout was proof of both his power and accuracy. Kyakonye is worthy of a better caliber of opponent.

 Former European Light Heavyweight champion Rudi Koopmans, age 77, 43-2-2 with 29 knockouts, is the best-known fighter to have come out of Leeuwarden, Netherlands. On November 29, 1980, Koopmans was stopped by WBA World Light heavyweight champion Eddie Mustafa Muhammad on cuts at Olympic Stadium in Los Angeles, California, in his only world title opportunity. After retirement, Koopmans became a professional bodyguard. The Netherlands has had one male and one female boxing champion in its history. Regilio Tuur held the World Boxing Organization World Super Featherweight title and defended it six times. 17-0 Lucia Rijkker won multiple female world championships, including the WIBF, WIBO, and IBO Female World Super Lightweight championships.

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Robert Brizel - Head Boxing Correspondent
Robert Brizel - Head Boxing Correspondent
Robert is the Head Boxing Correspondent for Real Combat Media Boxing since 2013. Robert is also a photographer and ringside reporter for the RCM Tri State region which includes NJ, NY and PA. Robert conducts exclusive interviews, provides historical boxing articles and provides editorial ringside coverage of major boxing events. You can contact or follow Robert on Facebook and by email at [email protected].