German Muay Thai kickboxer
Enriko Kehl (born February 19, 1992), is a German Muay Thai kickboxer who competes in the Lightweight division of GLORY, he previously competed in the Featherweight division of ONE Championship. He is the 2014 K-1 World Max Championship Tournament Champion. Kehl was voted German Kickboxer of the Year in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Career
Early career
After turning professional, Kehl's first prestigious match was in on December 5, 2009, in Bangkok, against Fadi Merza in the quarterfinals of the WMC King's Cup, which he lost. Following this, he fought with another kickboxing veteran, Murat Direkçi, but lost again, on October 10, 2010, in Darmstadt, in Germany.
After some matches, he fought with a great name of the Muay Thai world: Eakpracha Meenayothin, the first great match of his career, from the MAX Muay Thai 1 at Surin, in Thailand, was the March 23, 2013. The fight ended in a draw. After the draw with Eakpracha Meenayothin, at Thailand vs Germany 2013 in Ulm, Germany, he won against Bernueng Topking Boxing.
On June 15, 2013, at MixFight XIV in Darmstadt, he won against Erkan Varol, match that earned him two titles: the MixFight and I.S.K.A. Oriental Rules Supermiddleweight titles.[1]
After this date has been confirmed as one of the best emergent young fighters in the world.
Breakthrough
On September 14, 2013, at Mallorca, Spain, The Hurricane arrived in the K-1 World MAX, and won at the final 16 with Henri van Opstal, and advanced to the quarter-final.
After he fought two prestigious matches, against the Muay Thai legend Buakaw Banchamek at MAX Muay Thai 5: The Final Chapter (December 10, 2013), and for the W5 Lightweight European Title against Dzhabar Askerov, at NewFC: Battle of the Stars December 22, 2013. He lost both matches.
At K-1 World Max quarterfinals he won in Gran Canaria with Maximo Suárez, and, advanced at the final 4 fought in Baku, Azerbaijan, also with Shane Campbell. Actually, he is one of the younger K-1 World Max finalists of the tournament's history.
Kehl was initially set to rematch Buakaw Banchamek in the K-1 World MAX 2013 World Championship Tournament Final in Pattaya, Thailand on July 26, 2014.[2] The event was postponed due to the 2014 Thai coup d'état, however.[3] Kehl won a rematch with Buakaw by forfeit in a bout in Pattaya on 12 October 2014.[4]
Kehl will face the Russian Dzhabar Askerov in the Kunlun Fight -70 kg 4 man Tournament in Sochi, Russia on 15 August 2015[5]
2018
Kehl fought Yodsanklai Fairtex on February 4, 2018, at Kunlun Fight 69 in Guiyang, China[6][7] and lost by decision.
ONE Championship
On January 9, 2019, it was reported that Kehl had signed with the Singapore-based promotion ONE Championship.[8]
On March 8, 2019, he made his promotional debut at ONE Championship: Reign of Valor, defeating Liam Nolan by second-round TKO.
Kehl was entered into the 2019 ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix, which featured names like Giorgio Petrosyan and Yodsanklai Fairtex.[9] On May 17, 2019, he lost to Dzhabar Askerov in the Grand Prix Quarter-final by unanimous decision at ONE Championship: Enter the Dragon.[10]
On November 16, 2019, Kehl defeated Armen Petrosyan by second-round TKO at ONE Championship: Age Of Dragons.[11]
Kehl faced promotional newcomer Chingiz Allazov at ONE on TNT 1 on April 7, 2021.[12] He won a close bout via split decision.[13]
Kehl faced Davit Kiria in the quarter-finals of the 2021 ONE Kickboxing Featherweight Grand Prix at ONE Championship: First Strike on October 15, 2021.[14] He lost the fight by first-round TKO.[15]
Kehl faced Tayfun Özcan at ONE: Full Circle on February 25, 2022.[16] He lost the bout via unanimous decision.[17]
GLORY Kickboxing
On January 23, 2023, Kehl announced that he has signed a multi-year contract with GLORY.[18] Kehl faced Guerric Billet in a lightweight title eliminator at Glory 86 on May 27, 2023.[19] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[20]
Kehl challenged the Glory Lightweight champion Tyjani Beztati at Glory Heavyweight Grand Prix on March 9, 2024.[21]
-71 kg
