Eduard Irimia

Eduard Irimia
Born (1974-07-10) July 10, 1974 (age 50)
Ploiești, Romania
NationalityRomanian
Occupation(s)Kickboxing promoter, television producer,[1][2][3][4] businessman
Spouses
  • Adelina Irimia
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1997; div. 2007)​
  • Oana Irimia
    ​
    ​
    (m. 2014)​
Children2

Eduard "Edi" Irimia (born July 10, 1974) is a Romanian kickboxing promoter, television producer and businessman. He is the founder and CEO of Superkombat Fighting Championship (Superkombat)[5][6][7] and has promoted some of the most prominent names in kickboxing.[8]

Early life and education

Irimia was born in Ploiești, where his father was a boxing coach. Seeking to become a doctor, he attended medical school.[9]

Boxing promoter

After a trip to England in 1996 where he attended a Naseem Hamed fight, Irimia first has become a boxing promoter. He promoted the first professional boxing event in Romania and fighters like Tony Badea, being the leading promoter on Pro TV.[9]

On 23 March 2009 he was the cover subject of the first issue of Forbes Romania magazine.[10][11]

Kickboxing promoter

Local Kombat (2003–2010)

In 2003, Irimia founded Local Kombat. The show proved a ratings success. Local Kombat was home for fighters such as Cătălin Zmărăndescu, Ciprian Sora, Ionuț Iftimoaie, Daniel Ghiță, Sebastian Ciobanu and Cătălin Moroșanu. WKN of Stéphane Cabrera was sanctioning the series of events.[12]

K-1 (2007–2010; 2012–2013)

In 2007, he co-promoted K-1 Fighting Network Romania 2007 with K-1. Between 2008 and 2010, Irimia promoted K-1's ColliZion and other events across Europe. On 21 May 2010, he promoted K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 in Bucharest (in association with K-1). He assisted the Japanese organisation in securing talent coming out of Europe.[13]

Between 2012 and 2013, together with the new board of K-1, Irimia promoted the K-1 World Grand Prix 2012 in Los Angeles and K-1 World Grand Prix 2012 in Tokyo final 16 events.[14][15]

Superkombat Fighting Championship (2011–present)

In 2011, after the K-1 dissolution, fights promoted by Irimia started to air on Eurosport. After eight years of experience in Local Kombat, Irimia started to expand internationally launching the product under a new name, Superkombat World Grand Prix series (a knockout tournament featuring 16 kickboxers).[16] On December 14, 2016, the broadcast deal with CBS Sports was announced.[17][18][19]

Producer

Irimia expanded his fighting enterprise producing television content and films. In 2018, Irimia established "Superfilm," alongside Hollywood producers Moshe Diamant and Christopher Milburn.[20][21]

Philanthropy

In December 2013, he donated all the incomes from the tickets sales for Superkombat World Grand Prix 2013 Final to flood victims of Galați.[22]

In 2015, he donated portion of ticket sales for an event at Institutul Clinic Fundeni supporting oncology patients (children with cancer).[23][24]

Irimia once again donated half of ticket sales for Superkombat World Grand Prix 2015 Final to Colectiv nightclub fire victims.[25]

Accomplishments

  • World Independent Promoters Union Awards
    • Promoter of the Year (2011)[8]

Honours and decorations

Foreign honours

Personal life

He has been married to Oana Irimia since 2014, and they have one child together (Edward Andrei b. 2017).[28] Irimia also has a daughter (Michelle b. 2004) from a previous marriage.[29]

His brother, Emil Irimia, is a kickboxing and boxing supervisor and coordinator.[30][31]

References

  1. ^ "Eduard Irimia: Am avut nas fin. Florian Munteanu a fost reperat de Sylvester Stallone". Mediafax (in Romanian). 28 May 2018.
  2. ^ "Arte marțiale: Eduard Irimia va produce cel mai mare festival oriental din Europa". Agerpres (in Romanian). 18 September 2013.
  3. ^ "Eduard Irimia a dat lovitura la Hollywood cu "fabrica de vedete"!". cancan.ro (in Romanian). 3 June 2018.
  4. ^ "Românul care se trage de şireturi cu Sylvester Stallone face furori la Bucureștia". click.ro (in Romanian). 29 May 2018.
  5. ^ "Contender Promotions finalise deal with Romanian fight sport giants Superkombat". Teesside Gazette. 16 January 2014.
  6. ^ "Superkombat Grand Prix live stream this Saturday May 18". Bloody Elbow. 15 May 2013.
  7. ^ "Superkombat announces global expansion, looking for partners in the US and internationally". Bloody Elbow. 9 January 2013.
  8. ^ a b "Eduard Irimia a fost premiat alături de Mike Tyson şi Andre Ward". Libertatea (in Romanian). 10 February 2012.
  9. ^ a b "Lupta de 11 ani pentru un brand de 30 de milioane de euro". Ziarul Financiar (in Romanian). 15 March 2014.
  10. ^ "Primul număr Forbes România: 50.000 tiraj şi copertă cu promotorul galelor Local Kombat". Pagina de Media (in Romanian). 18 March 2009.
  11. ^ "Forbes Romania intra pe piata intr-un tiraj de 50.000 de exemplare". Wall-Street.ro (in Romanian). 19 March 2009.
  12. ^ a b "Povestea românului care controlează un imperiu al sporturilor de contact". Libertatea (in Romanian). 21 May 2014.
  13. ^ "Mixfight exclusief: interview met Superkombat promotor Eduard Irimia". Mix Fight (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  14. ^ "Superkombat officially ends partnership with K-1". Bloody Elbow. 17 April 2013.
  15. ^ "K-1 loses Superkombat support". Fight Linker. 12 April 2013.
  16. ^ "Kickboxing organization SuperKombat announces new partnership, looks to the future". Bloody Elbow. 23 September 2013.
  17. ^ "Superkombat to air kickboxing and MMA on CBS Sports Network in 2017". Bloody Elbow. 14 December 2016.
  18. ^ "O producţie ROMÂNEASCĂ va fi transmisă în PRIME-TIME în SUA şi CANADA". Evenimentul Zilei. 14 December 2016.
  19. ^ "Un produs românesc a dat lovitura! Luptătorii, cot la cot cu NFL și NBA". Gazeta Sporturilor. 14 December 2016.
  20. ^ "Eduard Irimia Establishes SuperFilm Alongside Seasoned Producers". Liverkick. 12 June 2018.
  21. ^ "Superkombat a anunţat, la București, un acord istoric la nivel global în industria filmelor de acţiune". Prosport. 12 Jun 2018.
  22. ^ "SUPERKOMBAT World Grand Prix – Final in Galati, Romania on December 21st". Muaythai TV. 13 December 2013.
  23. ^ "Remy Bonjasky vine la gala Superkombat din București". Gândul (in Romanian). 11 May 2015.
  24. ^ "Uriaşii din Superkombat i-au înveselit instantaneu pe micuţii de la Institutul Fundeni". Agerpres (in Romanian). 19 August 2015.
  25. ^ "Donații pentru victimele din Colectiv, din încasările Galei Superkombat. Cauza, promovată în peste 100 de țări!" (in Romanian). România Liberă. 2 November 2015.
  26. ^ "Arte Marțiale: Eduard Irimia a primit medalia de onoare la Festivalul Oriental de la Carrara". Agerpres (in Romanian). 31 October 2013.
  27. ^ "Distinctie deosebita pentru Eduard Irimia". Agerpres (in Romanian). 1 November 2013.
  28. ^ "Culisele nunţii lui Eduard Irimia şi ce a decis în privinţa lunii de miere". Puterea (in Romanian). 18 May 2014.
  29. ^ "Si-a castigat fetita la proces". cancan.ro (in Romanian). 25 Jun 2010.
  30. ^ "Maltese kickboxer wins European title". Malta Sport. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  31. ^ "Simply The Best 10 Prague Starts Fight Weekend". FIGHTMAG. Retrieved 13 April 2016.