Turkey is a country with a rich boxing history, and the country has produced some of the best boxers of all time.
From champions in the amateur and professional ranks to legendary fighters who have graced the pages of boxing’s history books, the Turkish boxing scene has been blessed with some truly incredible athletes.
We will take a look at some of the greatest boxers to come out of Turkey, highlighting their accomplishments and contributions to the sport. From world champions to Olympic medalists, these are some of the best boxers Turkey has ever seen.
1. Busenaz Sürmeneli
Busenaz Sürmeneli is a celebrated Turkish athlete who has made her name in the world of boxing. She is a two-time Olympic champion and a three-time world champion, having won gold medals in the Olympics in 2004 and 2008.
Sürmeneli has been boxing since she was a young girl and is a highly respected boxer in her native Turkey.
She is known for her strong technique, her agility, and her determination to succeed. Sürmeneli is an iconic figure in Turkish sports and is a beloved figure in her homeland. She has been praised for her exemplary performances in the ring and for her commitment to the sport.
Her Olympic victories have been celebrated as a national success and she has been an inspiration to many aspiring boxers in Turkey.
She has been honored with many accolades, including the Order of Merit of the Republic of Turkey, the highest honor for a Turkish athlete. Busenaz Sürmeneli has made a name for herself in the world of boxing and is an inspiration to many.
Her accomplishments demonstrate her dedication and hard work, and her success has been an inspiration to many young Turkish athletes. She is a role model to those who aspire to greatness and a reminder to everyone that with dedication and hard work, anything is possible.
2. Avni Yıldırım
Avni Yıldırım is a professional boxer from Turkey who has achieved great success in the sport. In 2017, he challenged for the IBO Super-Middleweight Title, a world championship title in the sport.
His success continued in 2019 when he challenged for the WBC Super-Middleweight Title, another world title. In 2021, Yıldırım achieved his greatest accomplishment to date, challenging for the WBA, WBC, and Ring Magazine Super-Middleweight Titles, all at the same time.
He is now one of the most successful professional boxers from Turkey and has achieved a level of success that few can match. His impressive record of success shows his dedication to the sport and his commitment to excellence.
3. Buse Naz Çakıroğlu
Buse Naz Çakıroğlu is a professional boxer from Turkey. She is the current WBC Female Light Flyweight Champion, a prestigious title she achieved in 2018.
Çakıroğlu started her boxing career in 2012 and has since had a successful career, becoming the Turkish National Champion in 2016.
She also holds the WBC International Silver Flyweight Championship title, which she won in 2017.Çakıroğlu is known for her fast and powerful punches, her quick footwork and her aggressive style of boxing.
She is passionate about her sport and has made it her mission to promote boxing among Turkish youth, especially girls. She has participated in various charity events and is an advocate for female empowerment.
She also works hard to inspire the next generation of female boxers. As a champion, Çakıroğlu is a role model for aspiring boxers in Turkey and around the world. She is an inspiration and a symbol of determination and hard work.
Her success story is a testament to what can be achieved with dedication and focus. She has proven that anything is possible with hard work and dedication.
4. Yakup Kılıç
Yakup Kılıç is a talented boxer from Turkey who competes in the featherweight discipline. He is a member of the Istanbul Fenerbahçe Boxing Club, which is part of the larger Fenerbahçe sports organization.
Kılıç has achieved great success during his career, having won multiple Turkish national championships as well as international tournaments. He is considered one of the top featherweight boxers in the country and is a respected figure in the Turkish boxing world.
Kılıç’s strong work ethic and determination to improve his skills have earned him the respect of his peers and the admiration of Turkish boxing fans. With his impressive track record and commitment to excellence, Kılıç is an inspiring figure for aspiring Turkish boxers.
5. Eyüp Can
Eyüp Can is a retired Turkish boxer who achieved great success in the 1984 Summer Olympics and the 1986 World Amateur Boxing Championships.
In the Olympics that year, he competed in the Flyweight division, securing a bronze medal after losing to eventual gold medalist Steve McCrory in the semi-final. Two years later, he won the bronze medal at the 1986 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Reno, United States.
This victory was a testament to the skill and hard work that Can put into his career. He was able to compete against the best boxers in the world and come away with a medal, despite the formidable competition.
His accomplishments will always be remembered in the boxing world as a testament to the success that can be achieved with hard work, dedication, and resilience.
6. Ali Eren Demirezen
Ali Eren Demirezen is an accomplished Turkish professional boxer who has achieved a great deal in his career. He began his boxing career as an amateur, where he won a silver medal at the 2013 Mediterranean Games in Mersin, Turkey.
His success as an amateur earned him a spot in the professional ranks, where he has gone on to become a champion. In 2018, he won the WBO European Heavyweight Title, a title he held until 2019.
His success in the professional ranks has earned him a lot of respect and recognition in the world of boxing. He is widely considered one of the top heavyweight boxers in the world today, and his skill and talent are highly sought after.
He continues to train and compete, with the aim of becoming a world champion in the near future.
7. Selçuk Aydın
Selçuk Aydın is a renowned Turkish professional boxer. He has won several titles throughout his boxing career, including the European welterweight title from 2009 to 2010 and the WBC Silver welterweight title from 2010 to 2012.
In 2012, he also had the opportunity to challenge for the WBC interim welterweight title, but unfortunately he was unsuccessful in his attempt. Throughout his career, Aydın has distinguished himself as one of the most successful Turkish boxers of all time.
He has consistently demonstrated his boxing skills, technique and power in the ring, which has enabled him to win numerous titles. His career highlights demonstrate his ability to compete at a high level and stand out among his peers.
Aydın’s accomplishments have been recognized by his country and the international boxing community. He is widely respected for his achievements and is often seen as an inspiration to aspiring boxers.
His commitment to the sport and to achieving his goals has been praised by many. He is truly a remarkable fighter and athlete who has earned his place in the history of Turkish boxing.
8. Batuhan Çiftçi
Batuhan Çiftçi is a Turkish boxer who was born in Üsküdar, Istanbul, Turkey on 16 December 1997. He began his boxing career around 2008, and his hard work and dedication has been rewarded with a quota for the 2020 Summer Olympics.
This is a huge accomplishment for Çiftçi and is sure to be the first of many successes in his boxing career. Çiftçi’s journey to the Olympics has been filled with countless hours of training and dedication to the sport.
He has been an avid boxer since he was a young child, and his passion for the sport has only grown over the years.
He has achieved a high level of success and is now one of the best Turkish boxers in his weight class. The Olympics are a once in a lifetime opportunity for any athlete, and Çiftçi is sure to make the most of the opportunity.
He has worked hard for this moment and is ready to show the world his skills as a boxer. Çiftçi is an inspiration to other young athletes and will hopefully pave the way for future Turkish boxers. With his Olympic quota, Çiftçi is sure to make Turkey proud.
9. Adem Kılıççı
Adem Kılıççı is a talented Turkish amateur boxer who competes in the middleweight division. Standing at 1.85 m (6 foot 1 inch) tall, Adem weighs 75 kg (165 lbs), making him well-suited for his weight class.
He is a member of the Fenerbahçe Boxing Club in Istanbul, one of the most renowned boxing teams in Turkey. As an amateur boxer, Adem has had the opportunity to refine his skills and hone his technique against some of the best boxers in the country.
He is dedicated to improving his abilities and pushing himself to the highest level of competition. With the support of his coaches and teammates, Adem hopes to continue to grow and develop as an athlete, both in the ring and outside.
10. Bülent Ulusoy
Bülent Ulusoy is a professional boxer from Turkey who achieved international success in 2000 when he won the European welterweight title.
His victory was a major milestone in his career, as it marked the first time a Turkish boxer had won a European title. Ulusoy is a highly skilled and experienced fighter, having competed for many years in the professional boxing circuit.
He has also competed in numerous international tournaments, such as the European Championships and the International Boxing Federation (IBF) World Championships.
His experience and knowledge of the sport has earned him a great deal of respect in the boxing world. The European welterweight title is a highly prestigious title, and Ulusoy’s victory was a major accomplishment for Turkish boxing.
His win was seen as a sign of Turkey’s increasing prowess in the sport, and it was a major milestone in the country’s history of professional boxing. Ulusoy’s success and dedication to the sport has made him a popular figure in Turkey.
He has been lauded for his courage and determination, and for his willingness to take risks and push himself in order to achieve his goals.
He continues to be an inspiration to many aspiring boxers in Turkey, and his success serves as a reminder of the potential of the sport in Turkey.
11. Kerem Özmen
Kerem Özmen is a Turkish boxer who recently achieved a great accomplishment. At the 2021 AIBA World Boxing Championships, he competed in the light welterweight event and was awarded the silver medal.
This is a great achievement, as it demonstrates his skill in the sport and shows how he has been able to stand out amongst his peers. Kerem Özmen has been boxing since a young age, and his hard work has paid off.
He has dedicated himself to the sport and has achieved great success over the years. His silver medal in the 2021 AIBA World Boxing Championships is a testament to his dedication and commitment to the sport. Kerem Özmen’s success is a great example for young athletes.
He has shown that through hard work and dedication, anyone can achieve great things.
His silver medal is a reminder that with determination and perseverance, anything is possible. Kerem Özmen’s silver medal in the 2021 AIBA World Boxing Championships is a great accomplishment, and it shows the potential of Turkish boxers.
His success is a great inspiration to other athletes and is a reminder of the power of hard work and dedication.
12. Soner Karagöz
Soner Karagöz is a professional boxer from Turkey. He is known for his impressive athletic ability and his achievements in the boxing world. Karagöz represented his country at the 1996 Summer Olympics in the men’s bantamweight event.
He was one of the many athletes from around the world who were given the opportunity to compete in the prestigious event. Karagöz’s performance at the Olympics was impressive, as he was able to make it to the quarterfinals.
This was a great achievement as the competition was incredibly fierce. He was one of the few athletes from Turkey that made it to the quarterfinals.
His success at the Olympics gave him recognition not only in Turkey but also in the international boxing scene. Karagöz’s career in boxing has been one of success and determination.
He has achieved a lot in his career and continues to be a role model for aspiring boxers in Turkey. He is an inspiration to many people who strive to make it to the top in the boxing world.
Karagöz’s Olympic performance was undoubtedly a turning point in his career and one that he will always remember.
13. Mehmet Gürgen
Mehmet Gürgen was a Turkish boxer who competed in the men’s light heavyweight event at the 1992 Summer Olympics. Gürgen had an impressive record prior to his Olympic debut, having won the Turkish National Championships the previous year.
In his first match at the Olympics, he was pitted against Angel Espinosa of the Dominican Republic. The two men put up a valiant fight, but in the end it was Espinosa who emerged victorious in the third round.
Gürgen’s loss was a disappointment for the Turkish team, but it did not dampen his spirit. He continued to compete in the years that followed and eventually earned the title of Turkish National Champion in 1997.
His determination and skill make him an inspiration to aspiring boxers everywhere.
14. Malik Beyleroğlu
Malik Beyleroğlu is a former amateur boxer from Turkey, who was born in the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic, while it was part of the Soviet Union. He made a name for himself in 1996 when he competed in the Summer Olympics in the men’s middleweight division.
His impressive performance earned him the silver medal, with only the Cuban boxer, Ariel Hernández, being able to beat him in the final. This success made Malik Beyleroğlu one of the most successful amateur boxers in Turkey, and a symbol of hope for many aspiring athletes.
He is remembered for his tenacity, skill, and determination in the ring, as well as his ability to overcome the odds and make it to the Olympics.
15. Atagün Yalçınkaya
Atagün Yalçınkaya is a professional Turkish boxer who competes in the bantamweight division. He is most famous for his impressive achievement of winning the silver medal in the light-flyweight category at the 2004 Olympics.
Yalçınkaya is a decorated athlete, having won the European Amateur Championships in 2004 and the Mediterranean Games in 2005. He has also been successful in the professional boxing world, winning the Turkish Professional Bantamweight Championship in 2009.
Yalçınkaya has an impressive record of success and is considered one of the best boxers to come out of Turkey. He is a role model for aspiring boxers in his home country and has inspired many to pursue the sport.
16. Orhan Delibaș
Orhan Delibaş is an accomplished boxer from a Turkish background. He competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics, where he won a silver medal in the Light Middleweight category.
He followed this up with a second consecutive silver medal at the 1993 European Amateur Boxing Championships in his home country of Turkey. After retiring from amateur boxing, he stepped into the professional ring, where he achieved a record of 25 wins and 2 losses.
His impressive success in both amateur and professional boxing makes him an extraordinary athlete.
17. Gu Hong
Gu Hong is a highly accomplished boxer from China. She has earned numerous awards and accolades in her career, including two silver medals from the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships and three gold medals from the Asian Amateur Boxing Championships.
Her greatest achievement to date was her silver medal in the women’s welterweight event at the 2020 Summer Olympics. This medal is a testament to her dedication and commitment to the sport of boxing, and it is a powerful symbol of her success.
Gu Hong is an inspiration to all aspiring boxers and athletes, showing them that hard work and dedication can lead to great success.
18. Gökhan Saki
Gökhan Saki is an impressive athlete with a long list of achievements. Born in the Netherlands, he is a Dutch, European and World Muay Thai champion. He also competed in the K-1 World GP 2006 tournament in Amsterdam, where he made it to the finals.
He was able to achieve success in other martial arts competitions as well, notably winning the K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Hawaii and becoming the Glory Light Heavyweight Champion. These successes make Gökhan Saki a well-respected kickboxer and mixed martial artist.
His accomplishments are a testament to his skill and dedication to the martial arts.
19. Furkan Soyalp
Furkan Soyalp is a professional footballer from Turkey. He currently plays as an attacking midfielder for the Turkish club Gaziantep. He made his debut in the Turkish Süper Lig, the top-flight division in the country, on 19 May 2013.
His first match was against Gençlerbirliği, another Turkish team. Furkan has since become an integral part of the Gaziantep side and has been a consistent performer in the midfield for his team.
He has played in over 130 matches for Gaziantep in all competitions and has scored 12 goals so far. His ability to create chances and score goals has helped his team reach the top of the table on multiple occasions.
Furkan has also been capped by the Turkish national team at all levels. He has represented the country at the Under-21 and Under-19 levels and was part of the squad that won the 2017 UEFA European Under-19 Championship.
He has also been called up to the senior team on multiple occasions and has made two appearances so far. Furkan Soyalp is undoubtedly one of Turkey’s finest footballers and has been an important part of Gaziantep’s success in recent years.
His impressive performances have earned him plaudits from both fans and pundits alike and he looks set to have a long and successful career in the game.
Conclusion
The best boxing players in Turkey are not only among the best in the world, but they have also achieved great success both in the ring and in their respective countries. They have inspired many aspiring boxers in Turkey to strive for excellence and reach their goals.
These outstanding athletes have proven that anything is possible if you put in the hard work and dedication to reach the top. They have demonstrated that Turkey is a country full of talented and determined athletes, and they will continue to excel in the years to come.
