Exclusive: Costas Nanga opens up on unbeaten run, adversity and boxing ambitions

Since turning professional in 2021, Costas Nanga has had his hand raised in all 15 of his fights, stopping 11 opponents along the way.

The 30-year-old is now ranked as Sweden's number one light heavyweight by BoxRec and entered the WBC rankings earlier this year after stopping former French IBF title challenger Dylan Colin in the fourth round.

Born in the Angolan capital of Luanda and now based in Stockholm, Sweden, Nanga previously competed in kickboxing and Muay Thai before making the move into professional boxing.

Nanga is currently in the UK, where he has been spending time at the Matchroom gym in Romford as he looks to continue building his profile in the sport.

Speaking exclusively to Combat Evolved, Nanga revealed that he has enjoyed his time in the country so far and would welcome the chance to test himself against some of the UK's best.

“I'm more than pleased with my time in UK so far, I'm here on a mission and I'm on the right path,” Nanga said.

“I love the fighting culture here and if I ever get the opportunity to fight here I will be ready to make a statement and take my shares of the market.”

While his ambitions are clear, Nanga's outlook on adversity also offers an insight into the mentality behind his unbeaten record.

For the Swede, adversity is not simply something that exists inside the ring. Instead, it is something he believes is necessary for growth.

“Adversity for me means growing pain. I'm doing something outside of my comfort zone which will lead me to growth and new experiences. That's where I find my joy.”

That outlook has given Nanga a different perspective on his own unbeaten record, with the 30-year-old insisting that an undefeated fighter can still have experienced defeat.

“Only the coward has never suffered a defeat in life, only the person who has not taken a risk can say they’ve never lost,” he said.

“Because being unbeaten doesn't mean you've never lost, it means that every time you've been beat down you've stood up.

“In that sense I'm unbeaten, I've suffered defeats, but I've always stood up for battle. And that has showed me what kind of person I am, someone to be trusted.”

That mentality has followed Nanga throughout his journey through the world of combat sports, which began with Muay Thai and kickboxing before he eventually switched to boxing.

Having reached what he felt was the ceiling in his previous disciplines, Nanga saw boxing as an opportunity to take his career further.

“I started Muay Thai and kickboxing with a mission and after reaching and seeing the ceiling, I chose a platform, boxing, which has a higher ceiling,” he said.

But boxing has since become much more than simply a career path for Nanga.

The Swede views fighting as a way of expressing himself, both physically and mentally, and sees the sport as a lifestyle rather than a job.

“In fighting I found a form in which I could express all of me, body, soul and what goes through my mind. I see fighting as a way of living life.”

For Nanga, that freedom is ultimately worth more than any financial reward the sport can offer.

“I'm free therefore I fight, I'm capable therefore I fight, I'm brave therefore I fight and I'm honourable therefore I fight for my beliefs and beloved.

“Money can't buy that. Give the poor kid boxing gloves and he got the attention and respect from the world.”

With an unbeaten 15-0 record, a place in the WBC rankings and ambitions of fighting in the UK, Nanga now has the opportunity to turn that mentality into further progress inside the ring as he looks to take the next step in his professional career.