{{short description|Ghanaian-Dutch kickboxer}} {{Infobox martial artist | name = Michael Boapeah | image = | birth_name = Michael Baah-Boapeah | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2000|4|21|df=y}} | birth_place = The Hague, Netherlands<ref>{{Citation |title=arjgym.com |url=https://www.arjgym.com/vechters/michael-boapeah |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260413105509/https://www.arjgym.com/vechters/michael-boapeah |archive-date=2026-04-13 |url-status=live}}</ref> | death_date = | death_place = | other_names = Time Bomb | fighting_out_of = The Hague, Netherlands | height = 185cm | weight = {{convert|90|kg|lb st|abbr=on}} | weight_class = | style = Kickboxing | rank = | stance = Orthodox | team = ARJ Gym<ref>{{Citation |title=arjgym.com |url=https://www.arjgym.com/vechters/michael-boapeah |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260413105509/https://www.arjgym.com/vechters/michael-boapeah |archive-date=2026-04-13 |url-status=live}}</ref> | trainer = Maikel Polanen | promotor = | yearsactive = 2018–present | kickboxingwins = 24 | kickboxingkowins = 9 | kickboxinglosses = 7 | kickboxingkolosses = | kickboxingdraws = 1 | kickboxingncs = | other = | occupation = | spouse = | relatives = | students = | university = | url = | boxrec = | sherdog = | updated = }}
'''Michael Boapeah''' (born January 1, 2000) is a Ghanaian-Dutch kickboxer, currently competing in the middleweight division of Glory. He previously competed for Golden Fighter Championship and Colosseum Tournament. As of 1 May 2025, Boapeah is ranked the #2 middleweight in the world.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rankings|url=https://beyondkick.com/rankings/2025-5/|website=beyondkick.com |access-date=1 May 2025}}</ref>
==Kickboxing career== ===Early career=== Boapeah faced the two-time World Fighting League Middleweight champion Santino Verbeek at RINGS Nieuwegein on October 6, 2021.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Schot |first1=Vincent |title=Santino Verbeek is er klaar mee om altijd maar het braafste jongetje van de klas te zijn: kickbokser gaat de ring weer in |url=https://www.noordhollandsdagblad.nl/cnt/dmf20210928_36936023 |website=noordhollandsdagblad.nl |access-date=12 March 2023 |date=2 October 2021}}</ref> He won the fight by unanimous decision.<ref>{{cite web |last1=van Dinter |first1=Sean |title=RINGS Beverwijk ondanks Glory uitverkocht! 'Kickboks event populair' |url=https://www.vechtsportinfo.nl/kickboks-amp-muay-thai-nieuws/rings-beverwijk-ondanks-glory-uitverkocht-kickboks-event-populair |website=vechtsportinfo.nl |access-date=12 March 2023 |date=22 October 2021}}</ref> This victory earned Boapeah the chance to challenge Kevin Van Heeckeren for the RINGS Middleweight (-85 kg) title at Rings Fighting Network 2022 on March 19, 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last1=van Dinter |first1=Sean |title=Topkickbokser Michael Boapeah gaat voor RiNGS titel |url=https://www.vechtsportinfo.nl/kickboks-amp-muay-thai-nieuws/topkickbokser-michael-boapeah-gaat-voor-rings-titel |website=vechtsportinfo.nl |access-date=12 March 2023 |date=16 March 2022}}</ref> He lost the fight by unanimous decision.
Boapeah faced Amir Al Amir at Rings Gala Mijdrecht on June 4, 2022. The bout was a rematch of their March 24, 2019, meeting, which Boapeah won by unanimous decision. He was able to win the rematch by a first-round knockout.<ref>{{cite web |last1=van Dinter |first1=Sean |title=Top kickbokstalent Boapeah beukt rivaal 'KO': Fans uit hun dak (video) |url=https://www.vechtsportinfo.nl/kickboks-amp-muay-thai-nieuws/top-kickbokstalent-boapeah-beukt-rivaal-ko-fans-uit-hun-dak-video |website=vechtsportinfo.nl |access-date=12 March 2023 |date=6 June 2022}}</ref>
===Glory=== Boapeah made his Glory debut against Florian Kröger at Glory 81: Ben Saddik vs. Adegbuyi 2 on August 20, 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kickbokstalent uit Schilderswijk maakt debuut in Glory |url=https://www.bndestem.nl/videos/productie/kickbokstalent-uit-schilderswijk-maakt-debuut-in-glory-321719 |website=bndestem.nl |access-date=12 March 2023}}</ref> He won the fight by unanimous decision.<ref>{{cite web |title=Winning Ghanees Boapeah laat GLORY-fans smullen met highkick knockdown en switch knie |url=https://sportnieuws.nl/vechtsport/winning-ghanees-boapeah-laat-glory-fans-smullen-met-highkick-knockdown-en-switch-knie/ |website=sportnieuws.nl |access-date=12 March 2023}}</ref> Despite calling for a fight with the top ranked Glory middleweight contender Serkan Ozcaglayan next, Boapeah was instead booked to face Glory debutante Sergej Braun at Glory: Collision 4 on October 8, 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fuldaer Kampfsportler gibt Debüt bei Veranstalter Glory: Sergej Braun steigt vor 15.000 Zuschauern in den Ring |url=https://www.fuldaerzeitung.de/sport/lokalsport/kampfsport-sergej-braun-fulda-glory-anrheim-15000-zuschauer-91837167.html |website=fuldaerzeitung.de |date=8 October 2022 |access-date=8 October 2022}}</ref> Boapeah was knocked down in the third round, en route to losing the fight by majority decision.<ref>{{cite web |title=Michael Boapeah verliest gevecht tijdens kickboksgala Glory |url=https://www.omroepwest.nl/sport/4636433/michael-boapeah-verliest-gevecht-tijdens-kickboksgala-glory |website=omroepwest.nl |date=8 October 2022 |access-date=8 October 2022}}</ref>
Boapeah faced Ertugrul Bayrak at Glory 84 on March 11, 2023.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Aantjes |first1=Jordi |title=Ertuğrul Bayrak: 'Ervaring gaat mij de winst brengen op Glory 84' |url=https://www.vechtsportinfo.nl/kickboks-amp-muay-thai-nieuws/ertugrul-bayrak-ervaring-gaat-mij-de-winst-brengen-op-glory-84 |website=vechtsportinfo.nl |access-date=12 March 2023 |date=7 March 2023}}</ref> He won the fight by unanimous decision.<ref>{{cite web |title=Emotionele Boapeah na overwinning: 'Toen ik in zijn graf keek, beloofde ik hem iets' |url=https://www.rtl.nl/?videoId=fae630ec-e18a-4d31-a2a6-95370e823ce5 |website=rtl.nl | date=11 March 2023 |access-date=12 March 2023}}</ref>
Boapeah faced Ulric Bokeme at Glory: Collision 5 on June 17, 2023.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wheaton |first1=Timothy |title=Michael Boapeah to Fight Ulric Bokeme at GLORY COLLISION 5 on June 17 |url=https://beyondkick.com/news/michael-boapeah-to-fight-ulric-bokeme-at-glory-collision-5-on-june-17/ |website=beyondkick.com |access-date=9 May 2023 |date=9 May 2023}}</ref> He won the fight by a first-round technical knockout. Bokeme retired from the bout in the final minute of the opening round, after his front teeth were knocked out.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Meshew |first1=Jed |title=Video: Kickboxer Ulric Bokeme has front teeth brutally knocked out at GLORY Collision 5 |url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2023/6/17/23764708/video-kickboxer-ulric-bokeme-has-front-teeth-brutally-knocked-out-at-glory-collision-5 |website=mmafighting.com |access-date=17 June 2023 |date=17 June 2023}}</ref>
Boapeah faced Sergej Braun at Glory 87 on August 19, 2023. The bout was a rematch of their Glory 81 fight, which Braun won by unanimous decision.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Emmerink |first1=Ron |title=Glory's Michael Boapeah and Sergej Braun compete against each other in rematch |url=https://www.vechtsportinfo.nl/kickboks-amp-muay-thai-nieuws/glorys-michael-boapeah-en-sergej-braun-nemen-het-tegen-elkaar-op-in-herkansing |website=vechtsportinfo.nl |date=28 June 2023 |access-date=29 June 2023}}</ref> He won the fight by unanimous decision.<ref>{{cite web |last1=O'Brien |first1=Owen |title=Kickboksers Kaffa en Boapeah succesvol bij Glory: 'Emotionele overwinning' |url=https://www.omroepwest.nl/nieuws/4749052/kickboksers-kaffa-en-boapeah-succesvol-bij-glory-emotionele-overwinning |website=omroepwest.nl |access-date=19 August 2023 |date=19 August 2023}}</ref>
Boapeah was expected to challenge Donovan Wisse for the Glory Middleweight Championship at Glory 89 on October 7, 2023.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pico |first1=Borna |title=Donovan Wisse to Make Third Middleweight Title Defense Against Michael Boapeah at GLORY 89 on October 7 |url=https://beyondkick.com/news/donovan-wisse-to-make-third-middleweight-title-defense-against-michael-boapeah-at-glory-89-on-october-7/ |website=beyondkick.com |access-date=24 August 2023 |date=23 August 2023}}</ref> Wisse withdrew from the bout, with an illness, on August 31.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Emmerink |first1=Ron |title=Glory kampioen Donovan Wisse zegt af voor titelgevecht tegen Michael Boapeah |url=https://www.vechtsportinfo.nl/kickboks-amp-muay-thai-nieuws/glory-kampioen-donovan-wisse-zegt-af-voor-titelgevecht-tegen-michael-boapeah |website=vechtsportinfo.nl |access-date=1 September 2023 |date=31 August 2023}}</ref> The title bout was rescheduled to take place at Glory: Collision 6 on November 4, 2023.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Collet |first1=Bjarne |title=Middleweight Title Fight Added To COLLISION 6 |url=https://beyondkick.com/news/collision-6-shaping-up-to-be-event-of-the-year-middleweight-title-fight-added-to-the-card/ |website=Beyond Kickboxing - The Home of Kickboxing |access-date=5 November 2023 |language=en |date=18 September 2023}}</ref> He lost the fight by unanimous decision.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jongmans |first1=Robin |title=Perfecte Wisse toont opnieuw aan groot kampioen te zijn |url=https://www.telegraaf.nl/sport/315491974/perfecte-wisse-toont-opnieuw-aan-groot-kampioen-te-zijn |website=telegraaf.nl |access-date=5 November 2023 |date=4 November 2023}}</ref>
Boapeah faced Serkan Ozcaglayan at Glory 92 on May 18, 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wie wordt kickbokskoning van Den Haag? Glory kondigt Haags gevecht aan |url=https://www.omroepwest.nl/sport/4825299/wie-wordt-kickbokskoning-van-den-haag-glory-kondigt-haags-gevecht-aan |website=www.omroepwest.nl |access-date=4 April 2024 |language=nl |date=29 March 2024}}</ref> He won the fight by unanimous decision.<ref>{{cite web |title=Michael Boapeah is 'Koning van Den Haag' na waanzinnig gevecht op Glory 92 |url=https://sportnieuws.nl/vechtsport/nieuws/michael-boapeah-is-koning-van-den-haag-na-waanzinnig-gevecht-op-glory-92-2024051820221678471 |website=sportnieuws.nl |access-date=19 May 2024}}</ref>
Boapeah faced Ulric Bokeme at Glory 93 on July 20, 2024. He won the fight by unanimous decision.<ref>{{cite web |last1=O'Brien |first1=Owen |title=Kickbokser Boapeah wint bij Glory: 'Ze zeiden dat ik het niet kon, maar kijk waar ik nu sta' |url=https://www.omroepwest.nl/nieuws/4864022/kickbokser-boapeah-wint-bij-glory-ze-zeiden-dat-ik-het-niet-kon-maar-kijk-waar-ik-nu-sta |website=www.omroepwest.nl |access-date=6 August 2024 |language=nl |date=20 July 2024}}</ref>
Boapeah faced Mohamed Touchassie at Glory 96 on October 12, 2024. He won the fight by unanimous decision.<ref>{{cite web |title=Michael Boapeah is oppermachtig tijdens Glory 96 en daagt meteen nieuwe tegenstander uit |url=https://sportnieuws.nl/vechtsport/nieuws/michael-boapeah-is-oppermachtig-tijdens-glory-96-en-daagt-meteen-nieuwe-tegenstander-uit-2024101220005638075|website=sportnieuws.nl |access-date=12 October 2024}}</ref>
Boapeah faced Ștefan Lătescu at Glory Underground on May 1, 2025.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pohoață |first1=Narcis |title=Ștefan Lătescu, față în față cu o "bombă cu ceas", în Statele Unite! Sportivul ieșean va lupta la Miami cu ghanezul Michael Boapeah, în Gala "Glory Underground". SPECIAL |url=https://www.prosport.ro/alte-sporturi/stefan-latescu-fata-in-fata-cu-o-bomba-cu-ceas-in-statele-unite-sportivul-iesean-va-lupta-la-miami-cu-ghanezul-michael-boapeah-in-gala-glory-underground-specia-20136061 |website=Prosport |access-date=2 May 2025 |language=ro |date=3 April 2025}}</ref> He won the fight by a second-round technical knockout.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Regional |first1=TeleM |title=Ieșeanul Ștefan Lătescu a pierdut meciul din gala Glory de la Miami |url=https://telem.ro/ieseanul-stefan-latescu-a-pierdut-meciul-din-gala-glory-de-la-miami/ |website=TeleM Regional |access-date=2 May 2025 |language=ro-RO |date=2 May 2025}}</ref>
Boapeah once again challenged the Glory Middleweight champion Donovan Wisse at Glory 100 on June 14, 2025.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Anderson |first1=Jay |title=GLORY 100's Michael Boapeah Has Goals: Pursue a Second Belt, Possible Jump to MMA |url=https://cagesidepress.com/2025/06/11/glory-100-michael-boapeah-goals-pursue-second-belt-possible-jump-mma/ |website=Cageside Press |access-date=15 June 2025 |date=11 June 2025}}</ref> He lost the fight by split decision.<ref>{{cite web |last1=O'Brien |first1=Owen |title=Kickbokser Boapeah in tranen na verloren wereldtitelwedstrijd bij Glory, Wisse blijft kampioen |url=https://www.omroepwest.nl/sport/4982912/kickbokser-boapeah-in-tranen-na-verloren-wereldtitelwedstrijd-bij-glory-wisse-blijft-kampioen |website=www.omroepwest.nl |access-date=15 June 2025 |language=nl |date=14 June 2025}}</ref>
==Title and accomplishments== *'''Glory''' ** 2025 Glory Light Heavyweight 4-man Tournament Winner
==Kickboxing record== {{Kickboxing record start||norec=y|title=Kickboxing record|record='''24 Wins (9 (T)KO's), 7 Losses, 1 Draw, 0 No Contests'''}} |- bgcolor="" | 2026-06-13 || ||align=left|{{flagicon|RUS}} Artem Vakhitov || Glory Collision 9 - Light Heavyweight Grand Prix, Quarterfinals || Rotterdam, Netherlands || || ||
|- style="background:#fbb; | 2026-02-07 || Loss||align=left| {{flagicon|GIN}} Mory Kromah || Glory 105 - Last Heavyweight Standing Finals Tournament, Quarterfinals|| Arnhem, Netherlands|| Decision (Unanimous) || 3 ||3:00 |- style="background:#cfc; | 2025-12-13 || Win||align=left| {{flagicon|SRB}} Miloš Cvjetićanin || Glory Collision 8 - Light Heavyweight Tournament, Final|| Arnhem, Netherlands|| Decision (Unanimous) || 3 ||3:00 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 |{{small|Wins the 2025 Glory Light Heavyweight Tournament.}} |- style="background:#cfc; | 2025-12-13 || Win||align=left| {{flagicon|POR}} Iuri Fernandes|| Glory Collision 8 - Light Heavyweight Tournament, Semifinals || Arnhem, Netherlands|| Decision (Unanimous) || 3 ||3:00 |- style="background:#fbb; | 2025-06-14 || Loss ||align=left| {{flagicon|SUR}} Donovan Wisse || Glory 100 || Rotterdam, Netherlands|| Decision (Split) || 5 ||3:00 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 |{{small|For the Glory Middleweight Championship.}} |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 2025-05-01 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|ROM}} Ștefan Lătescu || Glory Underground || Miami, Florida, USA || TKO (Low kicks)|| 2|| 1:54
|- bgcolor="#cfc" | 2025-02-22 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|MAR}} Ibrahim El Bouni || Glory 98 || Rotterdam, Netherlands || TKO (4 Knockdowns) || 3 || 2:04
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 2024-10-12|| Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|MAR}} Mohamed Touchassie || Glory 96 || Rotterdam, Netherlands || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 ||3:00 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2024-07-20 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|SWI}} Ulric Bokeme || Glory 93|| Rotterdam, Netherlands || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 ||3:00
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 2024-05-18|| Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|TUR}} Serkan Ozcaglayan || Glory 92 || Rotterdam, Netherlands || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 |- |- style="background:#fbb;" | 2023-11-04 || Loss ||align=left|{{flagicon|SUR}} Donovan Wisse || Glory: Collision 6 || Arnhem, Netherlands || Decision (Unanimous) ||5 ||3:00 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 |{{small|For the Glory Middleweight Championship.}}
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 2023-08-19 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|GER}} Sergej Braun || Glory 87 || Rotterdam, Netherlands ||Decision (Unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2023-06-17 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|SWI}} Ulric Bokeme || Glory: Collision 5 || Rotterdam, Netherlands || TKO (retirement) || 1 || 2:08 |- style="background:#cfc" | 2023-03-11 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|TUR}} Ertugrul Bayrak || Glory 84 || Rotterdam, Netherlands || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 |- |- style="background:#fbb" | 2022-10-08 || Loss ||align=left|{{flagicon|GER}} Sergej Braun || Glory: Collision 4 || Arnhem, Netherlands || Decision (Majority) || 3 || 3:00 |- |- style="background:#cfc" | 2022-08-20 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|GER}} Florian Kröger || Glory 81: Ben Saddik vs. Adegbuyi 2 || Düsseldorf, Germany || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 |- |- style="background:#cfc" | 2022-06-04 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|NED}} Amir Al Amir || Rings Gala Mijdrecht || Mijdrecht, Netherlands || KO (Uppercut) || 1 || |- |- style="background:#fbb" | 2022-03-19 || Loss ||align=left|{{flagicon|NED}} Kevin Van Heeckeren || Rings Fighting Network 2022 || Nieuwegein, Netherlands || Decision (Unanimous) || 5 || 3:00 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 |{{small|For the RINGS Middleweight (-85 kg) Championship.}} |- |- style="background:#cfc" | 2021-10-06 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|NED}} Santino Verbeek || RINGS Nieuwegein || Nieuwegein, Netherlands || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 |- |- style="background:#cfc" | 2021-08-17 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|ROM}} Claudiu Alexe || KO Masters 9 || Bucharest, Romania || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 |- |- style="background:#cfc" | 2021-06-24 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|ROM}} Serkan Çelebi || GFC 7 || Bucharest, Romania || TKO (Cut) || 2 || 2:32 |- |- style="background:#cfc" | 2019-11-29 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|ROM}} Robert Constantin || GFC 6 || Timișoara, Romania || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 |- |- style="background:#fbb" | 2019-10-06 || Loss ||align=left|{{flagicon|NED}} Jeroen Trijsburg || Rings Gala Amstelveen || Amstelveen, Netherlands || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 |- |- style="background:#fbb" | 2019-05-09 || Loss ||align=left|{{flagicon|ROM}} Adrian Mitu || Colosseum Tournament 12 || Arad, Romania || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 |- |- style="background:#cfc" | 2019-04-13 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|NED}} Hanno van der Wilt || Rings Gala Breukelen || Breukelen, Netherlands || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 || 2:00 |- |- style="background:#cfc" | 2019-03-24 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|NED}} Amir Al Amir || Rings Gala Mijdrecht || Mijdrecht, Netherlands || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 || 2:00 |- | colspan=9 | '''''Legend''''': {{legend2|#CCFFCC|Win |border=1px solid #CCFFCC}} {{legend2|#FFBBBB|Loss |border=1px solid #FFBBBB}} {{legend2|#c5d2ea|Draw/No contest |border=1px solid #c5d2ea}} {{legend2|White|Notes |border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{end}}
==See also== * List of male kickboxers
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Boapeah, Michael}} Category:Living people Category:2000 births Category:Dutch male kickboxers Category:Ghanaian male kickboxers Category:Martial artists from The Hague Category:Dutch people of Ghanaian descent Category:Sportspeople of Ghanaian descent Category:Middleweight kickboxers Category:Light heavyweight kickboxers Category:Glory kickboxers Category:21st-century Dutch sportsmen Category:21st-century Ghanaian sportsmen