On November 16, 2020, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia imposed a travel ban against Shakuta ‘for an unspecified period’ due to his alleged involvement in the killing of peaceful protester Raman Bandarenka. Several sportspeople have previously identified him in photos and videos of the masked persons who attacked Bandarenka. Shakuta has refused to comment on the suspicions.[2][3] In the same month, Estonia also imposed a travel ban against Shakuta.[4] On 9 August 2021, Shakuta and his sports club were added to the SDN list by the United States Department of Treasury.[5]
Biography/Career
Born in Minsk, Belarus, one of the strongest nations in Muay Thai practice worldwide, Dmitry started training in the sport at the age of 12 at the renowned Kick Fighter Gym under the tutelage of Evgeni Kotelnikov. He had his first competitive bout(s) at the age of 13 at the 1995 C.I.S. Junior Muaythai Championships, winning a silver medal at the event held in Odesa, Ukraine.[6] Between 1995 and 1997, he continued to excel in amateur youth competitions both domestically and internationally, with the pinnacle being the winning of a gold medal at the W.A.K.O. world junior championships in '97.[7] His success at the junior level was mirrored in the adult amateur scene as Dmitry won more gold medals between 1997 and 2000, including three world championships and four European championships.[8][9]
After success on the amateur circuit Shakuta decided to test himself in the professional game winning his first title - the IKF International Kickboxing Federation Intercontinental Muay Thai Title on January, 14th, 2000 in Minsk, Belarus when he defeated Fernando Calleros of Albq. New Mexico, USA by unanimous decision.
Shakuta challenged for the IKF International Kickboxing Federation Pro Muay Thai Junior Middleweight World title against Kongnapa on February 26, 2000 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. Kongnapa defeated Shakuta in a VERY CLOSE Majority decision, 48-46, 48-46 and 47-47.
He eventually won the IKF International Kickboxing Federation Pro Muay Thai Rules Super Welterweight World title when he defeated Pramuenrit Sithsaeng-a- run of Thailand by KO in Novosibirsk, Russia on June 29, 2000.
He later claimed his second pro title (this time with W.A.K.O. leading him to be named the 2000 "IKF All Around Pro Fighter Of The Year".[10] Dmitry would continue to win titles at both amateur and professional level between 2002 and 2004, picking up three pro world titles and four gold medals in world and European championships also switching gyms in 2002 to join SK-55. In 2003 he signed with the newly formed Thai & Kickbox SuperLeague organization and won his promotional debut at the SuperLeague Germany 2003 event easily defeating opponent Joe White.[11] Involvement with SuperLeague meant that Dmitry could regularly fight against some of the world's top fighters and over the three years he was with the organization until its demise in 2006 he would post an excellent six and one record with wins against the likes of Joerie Mes, Clifton Brown and Shane Chapman only being tempered by a surprise KO loss to Moises Baptista De Sousa.
After SuperLeague ceased to exist Shakuta's record meant that he would be snapped up by the up-and-coming Dutch promotion It's Showtime and he won his debut – a four-man tournament – with the organization early 2006. This victory meant he qualified for the organizations inaugural 75MAX tournament later that year in Rotterdam, although he did not go far after being beaten by Ondřej Hutník in the quarter-finals.[12] In 2008 after having won a qualifying fight the previous year Dmitry found himself back at the final. This time he went all the way beating a strong line of competitors in Rayen Simson, Sem Braan and Gregory Choplin to emerge victorious, with the victory against his early idol Simson being particularly sweet.[13] Later that year the winner of the 75MAX trophy and the winner of It's Showtime Reality Show faced off in Alkmaar with Dmitry defeating Sem Braan over five rounds to become the first 77MAX world champion.[14]
Over the next couple of years Dmitry would successfully defend his 77MAX world title before losing it in early 2010 to Cosmo Alexandre. He would also make a successful return to amateur competition winning a gold medal at the 2008 Busan TAFISA World Games. He is currently competing in the Tatneft Arena cup in Russia and has not fought with the It's Showtime organization since losing his world title.
Shakuta defeated Sergei Papusha by unanimous decision at Mustang Knock Out Fight Night in Minsk, Belarus on November 18, 2012.[15][16]
He moved up to 86 kg and lost on points to Suleyman Magomedov over five, two-minute rounds at the R-1 event in Rostov-on-Don, Russia on March 23, 2013.[17]
