Chris Kongo Biography: Powerful Rise, Painful Setbacks, Boxing Legacy

The focused story of a British professional boxer

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Introduction

Chris Kongo is a British professional boxer known for his sharp style, disciplined ring movement, and the nickname “2Slick.” His boxing journey has included respected wins, difficult defeats, and a steady place in the British welterweight scene.

Born in London, Kongo built his career through amateur boxing, Team GB experience, and professional contests against names such as Luther Clay, Michael McKinson, Sebastian Formella, Ekow Essuman, Florian Marku, Owen Cooper, and Elliot Eboigbe. His verified public story is mainly about boxing, discipline, comeback efforts, and community influence.

Quick Bio

Field	Verified Information
Full Name	Christian Mbwakongo / Chris Mbwakongo listed by public boxing databases
Ring Name	Chris Kongo
Nickname	2Slick
Date of Birth	23 December 1992
Age	33 years old as of May 2026
Birthplace	London, United Kingdom
Residence/Fighting Base	Bermondsey, London, United Kingdom
Nationality	British
Profession	Professional boxer
Division	Welterweight
Height	6 ft / 183 cm
Stance	Orthodox
Professional Record	17 wins, 4 losses, 0 draws
Knockout Wins	7
Major Titles Held	WBO Global welterweight, WBC International Silver welterweight, IBO Intercontinental welterweight

Chris Kongo Early Life

Chris Kongo was born in London and is closely connected with Bermondsey, South East London. His official and boxing profiles describe him as a London-born fighter who developed through the British boxing system before becoming a professional athlete.

His boxing interest started young. His official website says boxing was connected to his family environment, with his older brothers Elvis and Obed training at Fisher Boxing Club. It also states that Kongo first entered the gym as a child and had his first amateur fight at around age 11.

Chris Kongo Amateur Boxing Background

Before turning professional, Chris Kongo had a strong amateur background. BoxRec states that he had more than 70 wins from around 90 amateur fights and represented Team GB. That experience helped him build the foundation for his professional boxing style.

Kongo reportedly turned professional after missing out on the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. This became an important turning point because instead of stopping, he moved into the paid ranks and started building his name as a British professional boxer.

Professional Career Start

Chris Kongo made his professional debut in 2016. From the beginning, he was known as a tall, orthodox welterweight with a patient style and technical confidence. His nickname “2Slick” matches the way he tries to control distance and avoid unnecessary punishment.

His early professional career was built through steady development fights. These bouts helped him gain rounds, improve timing, and prepare for tougher domestic and international opponents in the welterweight division.

Career Breakthrough

A major breakthrough came in August 2020 when Chris Kongo defeated Luther Clay by ninth-round stoppage to win the WBO Global welterweight title. That victory raised his profile and showed that he could perform in meaningful title-level contests.

In March 2021, Kongo lost to Michael McKinson by unanimous decision. This was a negative moment in his career, but it also tested his ability to recover mentally and professionally after defeat.

Chris Kongo Career Overview

After the McKinson defeat, Kongo returned to important fights and continued to rebuild his position. In 2022, he defeated Sebastian Formella by unanimous decision and won the vacant WBC International Silver welterweight title.

In January 2023, he fought Ekow Essuman for major domestic and regional titles. Kongo lost by majority decision, but the fight kept him visible in the British welterweight conversation because it was a serious contest against a strong opponent.

Florian Marku Victory

One of the biggest wins of Chris Kongo’s career came on 31 March 2024 when he defeated Florian Marku by unanimous decision at The O2 Arena in London. The victory gave Kongo the vacant IBO Intercontinental welterweight title and was widely viewed as a strong comeback performance.

This win was positive because Marku entered the fight with a strong reputation and aggressive style. Kongo used his height, reach, timing, and boxing intelligence to control important parts of the contest and earn the judges’ decision.

Recent Career and Setbacks

After the Marku win, Kongo defeated Jacob Quinn in September 2024 and John Henry Mosquera in December 2024. These wins helped him stay active and continue his professional journey after a high-profile victory.

However, his more recent results also included setbacks. Public boxing records list a points loss to Owen Cooper on 10 May 2025 and a first-round TKO loss to Elliot Eboigbe on 13 December 2025. These defeats are negative career moments, but they also show the difficult and unpredictable nature of professional boxing.

Chris Kongo Boxing Stats

Chris Kongo’s verified professional record is 17 wins, 4 losses, and 0 draws, with 7 wins by knockout. His listed height is 6 ft / 183 cm, and he fights from an orthodox stance.

He has competed mainly as a welterweight and has held respected regional titles. His record reflects both success and struggle, making his career realistic rather than perfect.

Career Timeline

2016

Chris Kongo turned professional after a strong amateur career and Team GB experience. His professional debut marked the start of his journey in the paid boxing ranks.

2020

Kongo defeated Luther Clay by ninth-round TKO and won the WBO Global welterweight title. This was his first major professional title breakthrough.

2021

He lost to Michael McKinson by unanimous decision. This was one of the first major setbacks of his professional career.

2022

Kongo defeated Sebastian Formella by unanimous decision and won the WBC International Silver welterweight title. This victory helped rebuild his momentum.

2023

He fought Ekow Essuman in a major domestic contest and lost by majority decision. The fight showed that Kongo was still competing at a serious level.

2024

Kongo defeated Florian Marku at The O2 Arena and won the vacant IBO Intercontinental welterweight title. He also recorded wins over Jacob Quinn and John Henry Mosquera.

2025

Kongo suffered defeats against Owen Cooper and Elliot Eboigbe. These results created a challenging period in his career.

Public Image and Legacy

Chris Kongo’s legacy is still being written. He is respected as a skilled British professional boxer who reached title level, represented a tough London boxing culture, and produced memorable domestic performances.

His story also carries a human side. In a 2024 talkSPORT interview, Kongo discussed being stabbed at 16 and spoke about community work aimed at helping young people avoid violence and make better choices through boxing and discipline.

Conclusion

Chris Kongo’s biography is a story of talent, discipline, pressure, recovery, and setbacks. His positive moments include title wins, Team GB experience, and a major victory over Florian Marku.

His negative moments include difficult defeats and career challenges, especially in 2025. Still, Chris Kongo remains a recognised British professional boxer whose name is linked with skill, resilience, and the demanding reality of the sport.