{{Short description|Cameroonian boxer (born 1987)}} {{Infobox boxer |name = Thomas Essomba |weight = {{plainlist| *Flyweight *Super-flyweight *Bantamweight }} |height = {{height|ft=5|in=4}} |reach = |nationality = {{plainlist| *British *Cameroonian }} |birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1987|12|02|df=y}}<ref name="BOG2008" /> |birth_place = {{nowrap|Yaounde, Cameroon}} |style =Southpaw |total = 25 |wins = 14 |losses = 10 |KO = 4 |draws = 1 |no contests = |medaltemplates= {{Medal|Sport | Men's amateur boxing}} {{MedalCountry | {{CMR}} }} {{MedalCompetition|All-Africa Games}} {{MedalGold| 2011 Maputo | Light-flyweight}} {{MedalBronze| 2007 Algiers | Light-flyweight}} }}
'''Thomas Essomba''' (born 2 December 1987) is a Cameroonian-British former professional boxer who has held the European bantamweight and Commonwealth flyweight titles. As an amateur, he represented Cameroon at the 2012 Olympics, reaching the round of 16 of the light-flyweight bracket.
==Career== Essomba fought in two Olympic games for the Cameroon boxing team;<ref name="DouglasFeb14">{{cite web |last1=Douglas |first1=Mark |title=Thomas Essomba: A fighter God sent to Sunderland |url=http://www.thejournal.co.uk/news/news-opinion/thomas-essomba-fighter-god-sent-6675590 |website=The Journal |accessdate=16 July 2019 |date=5 February 2014}}</ref> at the 2012 Olympics in London, he was captain of the team and reached the last 16 of the light-flyweight division, being defeated by Paddy Barnes.<ref name=BBCAug12>{{cite web |title=Paddy Barnes beats Thomas Essomba in light-flyweight contest |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/19128063 |publisher=BBC Sport |accessdate=16 July 2019 |date=4 August 2012}}</ref> He defected in London, was given political asylum and indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom, and became a British citizen soon after.<ref name=AP>{{cite news |first1=Sylvia |last1=Hui |first2=Tristan |last2=Werkmeister |url=https://apnews.com/article/2020-tokyo-olympics-sports-boxing-immigration-migration-207907d540a508e303bf3a40ee965e8c |title=9 years on, Cameroon Olympic boxer talks of defection to UK |publisher=Associated Press |date=6 August 2021 }}</ref> He resettled in Sunderland, where he has trained at the Olympian Gym.<ref name="DouglasFeb14" /> In his professional career, he won the Commonwealth flyweight title in October 2015 and the English bantamweight title in March 2018.<ref name="RaynerFeb16">{{cite web |last1=Rayner |first1=Stuart |title=Sunderland is my 'proper home' now, says Cameroon-born Thomas Essomba |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/other-sport/boxing/sunderland-proper-home-now-says-10901590 |website=Chronicle Live |accessdate=16 July 2019 |date=16 February 2016 |quote=In October Essomba repaid promoter Jeffries [...] by beating Waleed Din in Rotherham to claim the Commonwealth belt.}}</ref><ref name="KellyMar18">{{cite web |last1=Kelly |first1=Roy |title=Thomas Essomba stops Louis Norman in Leicester to become English champion |url=https://punch-lines.co.uk/2018/03/03/thomas-essomba-stops-louis-norman-in-leicester-to-become-english-champion/ |website=Punch-Lines |accessdate=16 July 2019 |date=3 March 2018}}</ref> Essomba retired from boxing in June 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxingnewsonline.net/news/thomas-essomba-hangs-up-the-gloves-following-defeat-to-rhys-edwards/|title=Thomas Essomba hangs up the gloves following defeat to Rhys Edwards|publisher=Boxing News Online|accessdate=8 December 2025}}</ref>
==Achievements== *'''2019''' WBA Continental bantamweight title *'''2018''' English bantamweight title *'''2015''' Commonwealth flyweight title *'''2015''' International Masters Bronze super-flyweight title<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last1=Prince |first1=Daniel |title=Faith drives Essomba in title tilt at Rainton Meadows Arena |url=http://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/local-sport/boxing/faith-drives-essomba-in-title-tilt-at-rainton-meadows-arena-1-7143553 |website=Sunderland Echo |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402114451/http://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/local-sport/boxing/faith-drives-essomba-in-title-tilt-at-rainton-meadows-arena-1-7143553 |archivedate=2 April 2015 |date=7 March 2015}}</ref> *'''2012''' Second Olympic participation, London, England<ref name=BBCAug12/> *'''2012''' Cameroon champion, best sportsman, first Cameroon Award. *'''2011''' AIBA World Championship ranking: 20<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.aiba.org |title = Home |publisher=AIBA}}</ref> *'''2011''' African Confederation ranking: 1<ref>{{cite web |first=Alexander |last=Zammit |url=http://maltaboxing.net/blog/tag/gold-medal/ |title=African Boxing Confederation's Men's Elite Championships |agency=AIBA |date=18 June 2011 |website=Boxing News blog |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120201215008/http://maltaboxing.net/blog/tag/gold-medal/ |archive-date=1 February 2012 }}</ref> *'''2009''' AIBA World Championship participation in Milan. *'''2008''' First Olympic participation, Beijing, China.<ref name="BOG2008">{{cite web |title=Athlete Biography ESSOMBA Thomas |url=http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/BIO/Athlete/4/239584.shtml |website=Beijing 2008 Olympic Games |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907145723/http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/BIO/Athlete/4/239584.shtml |archivedate=7 September 2008}}</ref>
==Professional boxing record== {{BoxingRecordSummary |draws=1 |nc= |ko-wins=4 |ko-losses=1 |dec-wins=10 |dec-losses=9 |dq-wins= |dq-losses= }} {|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- !{{abbr|No.|Number}} !Result !Record !Opponent !Type !Round, time !Date !Location !Notes |- |25 |{{no2}}Loss |{{nowrap|14–10–1}} | style="text-align:left;" |Rhys Edwards |PTS |8 |7 Jun 2025 |style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Oakwell, Barnsley, England}} | |- |24 |{{yes2}}Win |14–9–1 | style="text-align:left;" |Sean Jackson |PTS |4 |9 Feb 2025 | style="text-align:left;" | {{small|Brentwood Centre, Brentwood, England}} | |- |23 |{{no2}}Loss |13–9–1 | style="text-align:left;" |Charlie Edwards |UD |12 |27 Sep 2024 |style="text-align:left;"| {{small|York Hall, London, England}} |style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Lost the European bantamweight title}} |- |22 |{{yes2}}Win |13–8–1 | style="text-align:left;" |Elie Konki |SD |12 |9 Feb 2024 | style="text-align:left;" | {{small|Park Community Arena, Sheffield, England}} | |- |21 |{{yes2}}Win |12–8–1 | style="text-align:left;" |Alessio Lorusso |UD |12 |20 May 2023 | style="text-align:left;" |{{small|Monza, Lombardia, Italy}} | style="text-align:left;" |{{small|Won European bantamweight title}} |- |20 |{{no2}}Loss |11–8–1 | style="text-align:left;" |Marcel Braithwaite |SD |12 |11 Nov 2022 | style="text-align:left;" | {{small|Sheffield Arena, Sheffield, England}} | |- |19 |{{yes2}}Win |11–7–1 | style="text-align:left;" |Michael Nielsen |UD |8 |9 April 2022 | style="text-align:left;" |{{small|Graakjaer, Holstebro, Denmark}} | |- |18 |{{no2}}Loss |10–7–1 | style="text-align:left;" |Marc Leach |UD |12 |5 Jun 2021 | style="text-align:left;" |{{small|Sheffield Arena Car Park, Sheffield, England}} | |- |17 |{{draw}}Draw |10–6–1 | style="text-align:left;" |Thomas Patrick Ward |{{abbr|TD|Technical decision}} |8 (10), {{small|3:00}} |17 Oct 2020 | style="text-align:left;" |{{small|East of England Arena, Peterborough, England}} | style="text-align:left;" |{{small|Split TD after Ward cut from accidental head clash}} |- |16 |{{no2}}Loss |10–6 | style="text-align:left;" |Sunny Edwards |UD |12 |29 Aug 2020 | style="text-align:left;" |{{small|BT Sport Studio, London, England}} | style="text-align:left;" |{{small|For IBF International super-flyweight title}} |- |15 |{{yes2}}Win |10–5 | style="text-align:left;" |Islander Kharsan |TKO |3 (8), {{small|1:24}} |16 Dec 2019 | style="text-align:left;" |{{small|Baluan Sholak Sports Palace, Almaty, Kazakhstan}} | |- |14 |{{yes2}}Win |9–5 | style="text-align:left;" |Sean McGoldrick |UD |10 |2 Aug 2019 | style="text-align:left;" |{{small|Exhibition Centre, Liverpool, England}} | style="text-align:left;" |{{small|Won vacant WBA Continental bantamweight title}} |- |13 |{{no2}}Loss |8–5 | style="text-align:left;" |Lee McGregor |KO |12 (12), {{small|1:38}} |13 Oct 2018 | style="text-align:left;" |{{small|York Hall, London, England}} | style="text-align:left;" |{{small|For vacant Commonwealth bantamweight title}} |- |12 |{{no2}}Loss |8–4 | style="text-align:left;" |Kyle Williams |{{abbr|SD|Split decision}} |10 |9 Jun 2018 | style="text-align:left;" |{{small|Willows Banqueting Suite, Willenhall, England}} | style="text-align:left;" |{{small|Lost English bantamweight title}} |- |11 |{{yes2}}Win |8–3 | style="text-align:left;" |Louis Norman |{{abbr|KO|Knockout}} |6 (10), {{small|1:06}} |2 Mar 2018 | style="text-align:left;" |{{small|King Power Stadium, Leicester, England}} | style="text-align:left;" |{{small|Won vacant English bantamweight title}} |- |10 |{{no2}}Loss |7–3 | style="text-align:left;" |Jay Harris |{{abbr|UD|Unanimous decision}} |12 |24 Feb 2017 | style="text-align:left;" |{{small|York Hall, London, England}} | style="text-align:left;" |{{small|Lost Commonwealth flyweight title}} |- |9 |{{no2}}Loss |7–2 | style="text-align:left;" |Iain Butcher |PTS |10 |7 May 2016 | style="text-align:left;" |{{small|Meadowbank Sports Centre, Edinburgh, Scotland}} | |- |8 |{{yes2}}Win |7–1 | style="text-align:left;" |Sergey Tasimov |PTS |6 |5 Mar 2016 | style="text-align:left;" |{{small|Rainton Meadows Arena, Houghton-le-Spring, England}} | |- |7 |{{yes2}}Win |6–1 | style="text-align:left;" |Waleed Din |TKO |11 (12), {{small|1:20}} |17 Oct 2015 | style="text-align:left;" |{{small|Magna Centre, Rotherham, England}} | style="text-align:left;" |{{small|Won vacant Commonwealth flyweight title}} |- |6 |{{yes2}}Win |5–1 | style="text-align:left;" |Mikheil Soloninkini |PTS |4 |19 Sep 2015 | style="text-align:left;" |{{small|Lancastrian Suite, Dunston, England}} | |- |5 |{{yes2}}Win |4–1 | style="text-align:left;" |Robert Kanalas |{{abbr|TKO|Technical knockout}} |2 (8), {{small|2:25}} |5 Jul 2015 | style="text-align:left;" |{{small|Stadium of Light, Sunderland, England}} | |- |4 |{{yes2}}Win |3–1 | style="text-align:left;" |Isaac Quaye |PTS |8 |8 Mar 2015 | style="text-align:left;" |{{small|Rainton Meadows Arena, Houghton-le-Spring, England}} | |- |3 |{{yes2}}Win |2–1 | style="text-align:left;" |Brett Fidoe |PTS |4 |30 Nov 2014 | style="text-align:left;" |{{small|Rainton Meadows Arena, Houghton-le-Spring, England}} | |- |2 |{{yes2}}Win |1–1 | style="text-align:left;" |Anwar Alfadli |PTS |4 |13 Jul 2014 | style="text-align:left;" |{{small|Stadium of Light, Sunderland, England}} | |- |1 |{{no2}}Loss |0–1 | style="text-align:left;" |Yoan Boyeaux |{{abbr|PTS|Points decision}} |4 |7 Nov 2009 | style="text-align:left;" |{{small|Gymnase, Usson-en-Forez, France}} | |}
==See also== *Cameroon at the 2008 Summer Olympics#Boxing
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== *{{boxrec|id=517856}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060827090724/http://www.melbourne2006.com.au/Participants/Participants?ID=107564 Data] *[http://amateur-boxing.strefa.pl/Championships/AllAfricaGames2007.html All Africa 2007] *[http://www.amateur-boxing.strefa.pl/Championships/AfricanOlyQual2008_1.html First qualifier results] *[http://www.amateur-boxing.strefa.pl/Championships/AfricanOlyQual2008_2.html 2nd Qualifier]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Essomba, Thomas}} Category:1987 births Category:Living people Category:Light-flyweight boxers Category:Olympic boxers for Cameroon Category:Commonwealth Games competitors for Cameroon Category:Boxers at the 2006 Commonwealth Games Category:Boxers at the 2008 Summer Olympics Category:Boxers at the 2012 Summer Olympics Category:Cameroonian male boxers Category:African Games gold medalists for Cameroon Category:African Games gold medalists in boxing Category:African Games bronze medalists in boxing Category:African Games bronze medalists for Cameroon Category:Boxers at the 2007 All-Africa Games Category:Boxers at the 2011 All-Africa Games Category:Long stubs with short prose
{{Cameroon-boxing-bio-stub}}