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5'6"
Polish southpaw junior welterweight
Agnieszka "Aga" Rylik was born on 21 January 1974.
She celebrated her fifteenth birthday by giving
herself an unusual present, not realizing that it would become the
most important decision in her life thus far ... she started to train
in kickboxing.
"I had no idea what kickboxing was, but my friend convinced me to go to the gym
one day. It was fascinating and quickly I realized that this is what I want to do
in my life."
It took her less than a year to become the runner-up in the European
Seniors Championships and at the tender age of seventeen Agnieszka was a World
Champion!
Agnieszka has since reached the European Championship podium three times
including a win at the European Championship Final
over Russian Zulfia Koutdoussova, who has held
two pro boxing world championships.
Despite her international success, and being best Polish kick-boxer three
times, Rylik isn't satisfied with her record at home in Poland. "Somehow, I
just had no luck in my fights in Poland", she explains.
"During the competitions in Poland I was often ill or injured or I was too busy
with my studies."
"In kick-boxing I achieved everything I set out for and had a taste of the life
as a professional athlete. Since kick-boxing is in decline nowadays I thought it
is time for me to try something new."
Agnieszka found out what this might be while watching the televised fights
that Polish Boxing Promotion staged for their female featherweight champion Iwona Guzowska. "Everything about Iwona's career and the
professional background provided by Polish Boxing Promotion really convinced me," says Rylik,
"It seems to me like I can do well also."
On March 4, 2000 in Torun, Poland, Agnieszka won her pro boxing debut with
a fourth-round TKO over Sylvia Porteleki of Hungary, who fell to 3-5.
On April 8, 2000 at Nowa Halle Sportowa in Gdansk, Poland:
Agnieszka (135¾ lbs) won an easy first-round TKO
over Piroska Beki (133¼ lbs) of Hungary, who fell to 1-2. Rylik decked Beki with a
straight right and Beki's corner threw in the towel.
Rylik pounds away on Samantha Rein
© Copyrighted photograph courtesy Polish Boxing Promotion On June 24, 2000 in Torun, Poland,
Agnieszka won the WIBF European junior welterweight
title over Samantha Rein of Germany by TKO in the fourth round. Rylik was
faster and stronger than Rein, and won each round. Rein was floored for
an eight count in the fourth. Rylik continued even stronger after this and
referee Daniel Van de Wiele stopped the bout. Rein fell to 0-3-1.
Canada's Diana Dutra was no match for Aga Rylik
© Copyrighted photograph courtesy Polish Boxing Promotion On October 14, 2000 in Kolobrzeg, Poland,
an audience of 2500 saw Agnieszka, fighting in her hometown,
win the vacant WIBF world Junior Welterweight championship
with a fourth round KO over former WIBF world champion Diana Dutra of Canada.
According to a report from Krzysztof Zbarski, "Diana Dutra was totally confused how to fight against a southpaw.
Agnieszka's punches were strong and precise. In the third round Agnieszka
landed a left hook which caused a deep cut in Dutra's cheek. In the fourth
after a combination of hooks Dutra was floored. After the eight count, Dutra
was still down on her knees in no position to continue. Austrian referee
Ernst Salzgeber stopped the bout." Rylik moved to 4-0, while the veteran
Dutra fell to 5-5-1.
On February 17, 2001 in Kolobrzeg, Poland, a capacity crowd saw
Agnieszka successfully defend the
WIBF world Junior Welterweight title and move her boxing record to 5-0, 4 KO's
with a ten round unanimous (99-90,100-90,100-89) decision over Snodene Blakeney
of Austin, Texas, who fell to 10-5 (2 KO's).
Blakeney was knocked down once and took an eight count. According to the report
from promoter Krzysztof Zbarski after the match, Blakeney "showed unusual durability,
taking punishment during all the contest. She was very strong mentally and
extremely durable, well prepared physically but lacks boxing skills.
Snodene couldn't find a way to fight southpaw and (was) having problem
with distance and timing. It was very clean fight (no fouls at all).
At (a) press conference after the bout girls showed sympathy and respect to
each other." The bout in Rylik's home town
was shown live by Wizja Sport in Poland and some channels of
UPC Platform in Europe. Snodene Blakeney was coming off a ten-month absence
from competition; her last fight was a split decision over Gloria Ramirez
on April 1, 2000.
On March 17, 2001 at FTC Handball Arena in Budapest, Hungary,
Rylik moved to 6-0 (5 KO's)
with a second-round KO of Sanja Stunja of Croatia in a non-title
bout that had been scheduled for six rounds. I don't have any record information
for Stunja, who is a new name to me.
On June 9, 2001 in Kolobrzeg, Poland, Rylik (139 lbs) defended the
WIBF world junior welterweight title with a third-round knockout of
Mary Ann Haik (139 lbs) of Pearl River, Louisiana. Haik was also knocked down
in the first round and had barely beaten that count.
Haik fell to 7-9 (1 KO). She had previously fought as a lightweight or featherweight,
with losses to Brenda Vickers,
Melinda Robinson,
Mia St. John, Snodene Blakeney, and Vicki Woods.
On October 13, 2001 at Népligeti Sportcsarnok in Budapest, Hungary,
Rylik moved to 8-0 (7 KOs) with a fifth-round TKO over Tanja Rotkvik of Germany,
who was making her debut. On October 27, 2001 in Kolobrzeg, Poland, Rylik
retained the WIBF Junior Welterweight title and advanced to 9-0 (8 KO's) with a fourth-round TKO of
Kada Omerovic of Bosnia-Hercegovina, who fell to 7-2-1 (3 KO). Omerovic did not come out for the fourth round after taking
punishment from Rylik in the second and third rounds of the scheduled
ten-rounder. Agnieszka used her crouching style to move in under
Omerovic's long lead and work hooks to her opponent's body. The Bosnian was
hurt and had few options except to try to smother Rylik's rushes. Rylik
often had Omerovic in trouble on the ropes but could not deliver a decisive
blow. Clearly in trouble, Omerovic retired on her stool with an elbow
injury.
On December 14, 2001 in Budapest, Hungary, Agnieszka (141 lbs) advanced won by a third-round TKO of Silvia Leon
(140¾ lbs) of Spain. Rylik was
aggressive from the opening bell and backed Leon into the ropes to score with both hands. Leon was able to circle away and
survive behind a high guard but did not throw enough punches to threaten Rylik. Rylik picked her opponent off in the
second, boxing well on her front foot. Leon landed some clean shots that tested Rylik's chin but showed little boxing
ability under the champion’s constant pressure. In the third Rylik was winging in hooks while her opponent tried to hang
on for dear life. At several points, Leon simply grabbed Rylik and clung to her, to avoid a knockout. Before the fourth,
Leon's corner stopped the fight as her nose appeared to be broken.
On January 22, 2002 in Gdynia, Poland, Agnieszka (140½ lbs) TKO'd British beginner Tracy
Wilcox (134½
lbs) in the fifth round of a non-title bout. Wilcox was making her pro boxing debut. Rylik moved to 11-0 (10 KOs) with
the win.
Rylik (in black) attacks Ragan Pudwill
Copyrighted photo by JollyDee On May 24, 2002 at Elektromos Sportcsarnok in Budapest, Hungary Agnieszka Rylik (136½ lbs) won by
a third-round KO of Ragan Pudwill (134½ lbs) of Mandan, North Dakota, who fell to 3-8-0 (0 KO's).
On October 22, 2002 in Sopot, Poland, Agnieszka (140 lbs) won a six-round unanimous decision over Borislava Goranova
(138½ lbs) of Sofia, Bulgaria, whose pro record fell to 2-3-0 (0 KO).
On March 22, 2003 at Mandalay Bay Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, former IFBA Featherweight champion Tracy Byrd
(134 lbs) of Flint, Michigan
came off the canvas in the second round to win a ten-round split (95-94,96-93,94-95) decision over Agnieszka
(137 lbs) in a bout for
the WIBO Super Lightweight title. This was Rylik's first
fight outside Europe and also her first fight against anyone ranked above her by
my computer rankings. Byrd's superior experience
and strength of schedule and the fact that Rylik was fighting far from home for
the first time added up to a competitive bout. Byrd, who's 38, took the
fight on one week's notice and improved her record to 13-7-0 (4 KO).
On November 22, 2003 at King's Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Rylik
(141¾ lbs) returned to the ring and won a six-round 59-56 decision over junior welterweight Borislava Goranova
(140½ lbs) of Sofia, Bulgaria.
This was the first fight on the card and was seen by only a handful of fans
because the hall was only just starting to
fill up. Rylik improved to 14-1-0 (11 KO) with the win while Goranova fell to 2-6-0 (0 KO).
Eliza Olson vs. Aga Rylik in England
© copyrighted photo by JollyDee
On
April 10, 2004 at the
M.E.N. Arena in Manchester, England, Rylik (138 lbs) won a ten-round unanimous
decision over Eliza Olson (139 lbs)
of the United States for the WIBF and WIBO Junior Welterweight titles.
The fight was a contrast of styles with Rylik working well behind her jab and
showing quick feet and slick movement to keep away from the powerful American.
Rylik landed several strong left hands in the early rounds but lacked the power
to score a KO. Olson slipped heavily in the eighth and Rylik was repeatedly
warned for holding in the late going. Olson fell to 7-3-2 (2 KOs). On December 18, 2004 at the
Bujtosi Sport and Leisure Center in Nyíregyháza, Hungary, Agnieszka Rylik (137¼
lbs) won a clear ten-round unanimous (all 100-90) decision over 19-year
old Iva Weston (5'7½",137 lbs) of Barrackpore, South Trinidad in
defense of her WIBF Light Welterweight Title. There were no knockdowns.
Trinidad and Tobago's international matchmaker Buxo Potts, who negotiated the fight, said there was a return
clause in the contract and Rylik must give Weston a re-match in six months, likely in Port of Spain.
"The ideal setting would be a clash between Weston and Giselle Salandy in the interim. Salandy is the Latin American
champion and Weston is the No 1 contender for that crown and is entitled to a shot," said Potts.
Weston was a definite underdog against the ultra-aggressive Rylik, but her awkward style
and switching from a southpaw to orthodox, made life difficult
for Rylik at times.
Weston reportedly received US$5,000 for the fight. Weston fell to 9-2-0 (1 KO).
On June 11, 2005 at Madison Square Garden in New York City,
Agnieszka (139 lbs) won a clear (60-54,60-54,59-55) six-round unanimous
decision over Tawnyah Freeman (136 lbs) of Fort Smith, Arkansas. Rylik
advanced to 17-1 (11 KOs) while Freeman dropped to 4-2-0 (3 KOs). Agnieszka is not carried away by her success in sports, and realized that a sound educational background is also
important. She is in her fourth year of studying politics in the Academy of Management and Banking in Poznan. But she is
quick to point out that except sports there are no other "loves" in her life. Besides ring combat, she enjoys the
occasional basketball or tennis match.
Page last updated:
Friday November 11, 2022 |
