1. Early Life and Background
Erhan Deniz's journey into the world of martial arts began at a young age, laying the foundation for his professional kickboxing career.
1.1. Birth and Early Life
Erhan Deniz was born on July 28, 1985, in Pendik, Istanbul, Turkey. Standing at 73 in (185 cm) tall and typically weighing around 220 lb (100 kg), he developed into a formidable heavyweight competitor.
1.2. Early Training and Development
Deniz started his martial arts training early, beginning with boxing at the age of 10. He later transitioned to Muay Thai, a discipline that would become central to his fighting style. To hone his skills and gain international exposure, Deniz frequently traveled to Thailand with the Turkish national team for intensive training camps. This early development in both boxing and Muay Thai provided him with a strong foundation in striking techniques and physical conditioning.
2. Professional Career
Erhan Deniz's professional kickboxing career is marked by his participation in various major tournaments and promotions, showcasing his skill and tenacity on an international stage.
2.1. Rise to Prominence
Erhan Deniz first gained significant recognition in the kickboxing world when he emerged victorious at the Pro Tournament Ring Masters. This four-man tournament was held on May 25, 2007, at the Haldun Alagas Sport Hall in Umraniye, Istanbul. In the semi-final round, Deniz defeated fellow Turkish fighter Hasan Gul. He then advanced to the final, where he overcame Eyup Kuscu, securing the title of Heavyweight Champion of Turkey. This victory marked a crucial point in his career, establishing him as a rising force in the heavyweight division.
2.2. K-1 Appearances
Deniz made his debut with the prestigious K-1 promotion in August 2007, participating in the K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Hong Kong. In a reserve match for the 8-man Grand Prix, he faced South Korean ssireum fighter Kim Dong-Wook, defeating him via knockout (KO) in the second round, just 23 seconds into the round, with low kicks. His second K-1 appearance was on November 2, 2007, when he took part in the Grand Prix at K-1 Fighting Network Turkey 2007 in Istanbul. However, his run was cut short in the quarter-final stage, where he was defeated by Brazil's Vitor Miranda by majority decision. On February 9, 2008, Deniz competed at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Budapest Europe GP Final Elimination, where he faced Cătălin Moroșanu of Romania. After three rounds, the fight went to an extra round, with Deniz ultimately losing by unanimous decision.
2.3. It's Showtime and Other Major Fights
On June 11, 2011, Deniz made his It's Showtime debut in the main event at BFN Group presents: It's Showtime Warsaw, held in Warsaw, Poland. He faced the formidable Romanian fighter Daniel Ghiță and suffered a knockout loss in the second round due to a left hook to the body.
Throughout his career, Deniz engaged in numerous other significant bouts. On December 29, 2010, he secured a decision victory against Sebastian Ciobanu at Sarajevo Fight Night 2 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He also faced Slavo Polugić of Switzerland on August 14, 2010, in Van, Turkey, for the WKN World Championship at -213.0 lb (-96.6 kg), losing by decision after five rounds. On October 10, 2009, he suffered a TKO loss due to a referee stoppage and a broken nose against Freddy Kemayo at TK2 World MAX 2009 in Aix-en-Provence, France. Another notable fight was on September 10, 2009, in Istanbul, Turkey, where he lost to fellow Turkish fighter Bahadir Sari by decision after five rounds for the ISKA Oriental Rules Heavyweight Turkish Title. Deniz also holds victories over opponents such as Petyr Vylkov (June 20, 2010, in Komotini, Greece), Cafer Ahmedi (February 27, 2009), Dennis Sebastian (October 3, 2008, in Istanbul), Tomasz Czerwinski (July 1, 2017, in Istanbul), Maikel Leimbereger (April 23, 2016, in Istanbul), and Christos Soulas (March 11, 2016, in Sarajevo). His career also saw losses to fighters like Mourad Bouzidi (January 9, 2010), Tomáš Hron (March 12, 2011), Sergei Lascenko (September 28, 2008, and November 19, 2011), Doug Viney (September 12, 2008), and Azem Maksutaj (September 7, 2007).
3. Titles and Achievements
Erhan Deniz has amassed several significant titles and achievements throughout his kickboxing and Muay Thai career, highlighting his success in both amateur and professional competitions.
- 2011 SuperKombat World Grand Prix IV champion
- 2011 I.F.M.A European Muaythai Championships in Antalya, Turkey (Bronze medal, +91 kg)
- 2007 Pro Tournament Ring Masters champion
- Turkish Amateur Muaythai Champion
4. Kickboxing Record
Erhan Deniz's professional kickboxing record stands at 23 wins (14 by knockout) and 12 losses.
| Date | Result | Opponent | Event | Location | Method | Round | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2017 | Win | Tomasz Czerwinski | World Thai Boxing Champions Night II | Istanbul, Turkey | TKO (3 Counts) | 1 | ||
| April 23, 2016 | Win | Maikel Leimbereger | Championship Night | Istanbul, Turkey | Decision | 3 | 3:00 | |
| March 11, 2016 | Win | Christos Soulas | No Limit 8 | Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| November 19, 2011 | Loss | Sergei Lascenko | SuperKombat World Grand Prix Final 2011 | Darmstadt, Germany | TKO (doctor stoppage) | 3 | 0:53 | SuperKombat World Grand Prix Final semi-final. |
| October 15, 2011 | Win | Wendell Roche | SuperKombat World Grand Prix IV 2011 | Piatra Neamț, Romania | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | SuperKombat World Grand Prix IV final. |
| October 15, 2011 | Win | Angelis Konstantinos | SuperKombat World Grand Prix IV 2011 | Piatra Neamț, Romania | KO (punches) | 2 | 1:58 | SuperKombat World Grand Prix IV semi-final. |
| June 11, 2011 | Loss | Daniel Ghiță | BFN Group presents: It's Showtime Warsaw | Warsaw, Poland | KO (left hook to the body) | 2 | 2:50 | |
| March 12, 2011 | Loss | Tomáš Hron | Gala night Thaiboxing | Zilina, Slovakia | Decision | 3 | 3:00 | |
| December 29, 2010 | Win | Sebastian Ciobanu | Sarajevo Fight Night 2 | Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina | Decision | 3 | 3:00 | |
| August 14, 2010 | Loss | Slavo Polugić | Ergen Ring Ateşi 13 | Van, Turkey | Decision | 5 | 3:00 | Fight was for WKN World Championship -213.0 lb (-96.6 kg). |
| June 20, 2010 | Win | Petyr Vylkov | Ergen Ring Ateşi | Komotini, Greece | Decision | 3 | 3:00 | |
| January 9, 2010 | Loss | Mourad Bouzidi | Ring Sensation Championships: Uprising 12 | Rotterdam, Netherlands | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| October 10, 2009 | Loss | Freddy Kemayo | TK2 World MAX 2009 | Aix-en-Provence, France | TKO (referee stoppage/broken nose) | 3 | - | |
| September 10, 2009 | Loss | Bahadir Sari | Istanbul, Turkey | Decision | 5 | 3:00 | For ISKA Oriental Rules Heavyweight Turkish Title. | |
| February 27, 2009 | Win | Cafer Ahmedi | Ergen Ring Ateşi 4 | Turkey | ||||
| October 3, 2008 | Win | Dennis Sebastian | Ergen Ring Attest 2 | Istanbul, Turkey | Decision | 3 | 3:00 | |
| September 28, 2008 | Loss | Sergei Lascenko | 4th Busan TAFISA World Games | Busan, South Korea | TKO (referee stoppage) | 3 | - | |
| September 12, 2008 | Loss | Doug Viney | K-1 Slovakia 2008 | Bratislava, Slovakia | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| February 9, 2008 | Loss | Cătălin Moroșanu | K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Budapest Europe GP Final Elimination | Budapest, Hungary | Extra round decision (unanimous) | 4 | 3:00 | |
| November 2, 2007 | Loss | Vitor Miranda | K-1 Fighting Network Turkey 2007 | Istanbul, Turkey | Decision (majority) | 3 | 3:00 | 2007 Turkey Grand Prix quarter-final. |
| September 7, 2007 | Loss | Azem Maksutaj | Bratislava, Slovakia | Decision | 3 | 3:00 | ||
| August 5, 2007 | Win | Kim Dong-Wook | K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Hong Kong | Hong Kong | KO (low kicks) | 2 | 0:23 | |
| May 25, 2007 | Win | Eyüp Kuşçu | Pro Tournament Ring Masters | Istanbul, Turkey | - | - | - | Ring Masters Tournament final. |
| May 25, 2007 | Win | Hasan Gül | Pro Tournament Ring Masters | Istanbul, Turkey | TKO (right high kick) | 2 | - | Ring Masters Tournament semi-final. |
5. Personal Life
On September 16, 2010, Erhan Deniz married Nurhayat Hiçyakmazer. Nurhayat Hiçyakmazer is a highly accomplished martial artist herself, holding Turkish, world, and European champion titles across various martial arts disciplines. Notably, Deniz served as her former trainer.
6. Legacy and Influence
Erhan Deniz has left a significant mark on the sport of kickboxing, particularly as a prominent Turkish heavyweight fighter. His consistent performances in major promotions like K-1 and It's Showtime demonstrated the growing presence of Turkish talent on the international stage. By winning titles such as the Pro Tournament Ring Masters and the SuperKombat World Grand Prix IV, he showcased not only his individual prowess but also inspired a new generation of martial artists in Turkey. His aggressive "Pitbull Attack" fighting style and dedication to the sport have contributed to his standing as a respected figure within the martial arts community.