Nili Block | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Born | Baltimore, Maryland, United States | January 16, 1995||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Native name | נילי בלאק | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Residence | Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nationality | Israeli American | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Style | Muay Thai, Kickboxing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Teacher(s) | Benny Cogan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Trainer | Eddie Yusopov | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Last updated on: 15 September 2022 |
Nili Block ( Hebrew: נילי בלאק; born January 16, 1995) is a professional Muay Thai and kickboxing fighter. She is a four-time Muay Thai and two-time kickboxing world champion representing Israel. [1] [2] [3]
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, in the United States, Nili is one of six siblings [4] [2] [5] [3] [6] to a dentist father and homemaker mother. Nili describes herself as a "traditional" or "observant" Jew [4] [2] [5] [3] who keeps kosher and the Jewish Sabbath. Bringing kosher food with her when she travels to competitions and observing the Jewish shabbat. [6] When Nili was two years old her family made aliyah to Israel from Maryland. [2] [7] They settled and now live in the religious neighborhood of Ramat Beit Shemesh in Beit Shemesh, Israel. [3] [4] [6] Her mother, Rina, became a volunteer officer in the Israeli Defense Forces Border Police [2] [6]
At age 11, Nili began representing Israel in international competitions as a member of the Israeli Women's American Flag Football National Team. [3] [8] She gave up the sport in 2012 in order to focus more fully on a single sport: Muay Thai. [9]
In 2013, in 12th grade, as a student at "Amit Noga" ulpana in Beit Shemesh, a high school for Orthodox girls, [6] Nili beat hundreds of other girls in the 10K run of the 2013 Jerusalem Marathon. [10]
As her sports are not supported by Olympic-style budgets, Nili cleans homes and delivers newspapers to pay for her travel and training. [6]
When she was 10 years old, Nili's mother suggested she learn kickboxing, as a manner of self-defense. [2] [5] She trained at a kickboxing academy at Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem. [3]
Her coach her entire career has been Benny Cogan, who is also Israel's national kickboxing and Muay Thai coach, and she is trained as well by Eddie Yusupov. [3] [11] [4] [6]
Nili is designated as an "outstanding athlete" by the Israel Defense Forces, which allows her to be in a special program that permits her to compete in international kickboxing competitions. [5]
In 2012 she became world champion in the flyweight class (50.5-53.5 kilos) at the 10th Amateur/Pro-Am Muay Thai Championships in Bangkok, Thailand. [6]
In May 2015, when she was in 12th grade, Block won a gold medal in her age category in the XIX KickBox World Cup in the 52- to 56-kilo category in Hungary. [10]
In October 2015, Block won a gold medal at the Kickboxing World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, in the 60 kg (132 pound) senior division. [2] [5] [7] [12] She said: "It is such a good feeling [being a champion].... it’s so special to become a symbol in the world as a Jew and as an Israeli. They didn’t expect me to win, coming from such a small country. Who would have expected it?" [5] That year she was named Female Athlete of the Year by the Federation of Non-Olympic Competitive Sports in Israel (Ayelet). [5] [7]
In 2016, at 20 years of age, she won the 17th International Federation of Muaythai Amateur (IFMA) World Championship for the first time, in the 60 kg division, in Jonkoping, Sweden. [5] [13] [14] [11]
In 2017, Nili won the gold medal at the Muay Thai World Championship in the 60 kg division. [2] [14]
She is also the two-time defending European champion. [2] In October 2017, she won the gold medal at the Thai Boxing European Championships in the women's 60 kg division in Paris, France. [15]
That year, in July she also won a bronze medal in Muay Thai at the 2017 World Games in Wroclaw, Poland, taking third in the women's 60 kg Muay Thai event. [2] [13] [1]
Date | Result | Opponent | Event | Location | Method | Round | Time | |
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2024-02-08 | Win | Hélène Connart | Lidon vs Benzaquen | Paris, France | TKO (Doctor stoppage) | 3 | 3:00 | |
Wins the vacant ISKA Oriental rules World -61kg title. | ||||||||
2023-08-09 | Win | Malena Garcia | Jomtalay, Phetchbuncha Stadium | Ko Samui, Thailand | Decision | 5 | 2:00 | |
2019-12-12 | Win | Stephanie Ielo Page | Championnat Du Monde Kickboxing | Paris, France | Decision | 5 | 3:00 | |
Wins the ISKA Low Kick World -61kg title. | ||||||||
2019-03-09 | Loss | Maurine Atef | TEK Fight II | Meaux, France | Decision | 3 | 3:00 | |
2018-09-09 | Loss | Cong Wang | Kunlun Fight 76 - Legend of Mulan Tournament Semifinal | Zhangqiu, China | Decision | 3 | 3:00 | |
2018-09-09 | Win | Li Mingrui | Kunlun Fight 76 - Legend of Mulan Tournament Quarterfinal | Zhangqiu, China | KO (High kick) | 1 | ||
2014-03-21 | Loss | Stephanie Ielo Page | WMF World Championship, Final | Pattaya, Thailand | Decision | 3 | 3:00 | |
For the WMF World -60kg title. | ||||||||
2014-03-21 | Win | Maria Lobo | WMF World Championship, Semi Final | Pattaya, Thailand | Decision | 3 | 3:00 | |
Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest Notes |
Date | Result | Opponent | Event | Location | Method | Round | Time | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022-07-17 | Loss | Charlsey Maner | 2022 World Games, Tournament Finals | Birmingham, United States | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
Wins the 2022 World Games Muay Thai -60kg Silver Medal. | ||||||||
2022-07-16 | Win | Niamh Kinehan | 2022 World Games, Tournament Semifinals | Birmingham, United States | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
2022-07-15 | Win | Ewin Ates | 2022 World Games, Tournament Quarterfinals | Birmingham, United States | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
2019-11-09 | Win | Darya Bialkova | 2019 IFMA European Muaythai Championships, Tournament Finals | Minsk, Belarus | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
Wins the 2019 IFMA European Muaythai Championships -60kg Gold Medal. | ||||||||
2019-11-07 | Win | Ekaterina Vinnikova | 2019 IFMA European Muaythai Championships, Tournament Semifinals | Minsk, Belarus | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
2019-09-01 | Win | Taylor McClatchie | 2019 Chungju World Martial Arts Masterships, Tournament Finals | Chungju, China | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
Wins the 2019 Chungju World Martial Arts Masterships -60kg Gold Medal. | ||||||||
2019-08-31 | Win | Kaewrudee Kamtakrapoom | 2019 Chungju World Martial Arts Masterships, Tournament Semifinals | Chungju, China | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
2019-08-30 | Win | Jamiyandorj Odgerel | 2019 Chungju World Martial Arts Masterships, Tournament Quarterfinals | Chungju, China | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
2019-07-28 | Win | Ekaterina Vinnikova | 2019 IFMA World Championships, Tournament Finals | Bangkok, Thailand | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
Wins the 2019 IFMA World Championships -60kg Gold Medal. | ||||||||
2019-07-27 | Win | Darya Bialkova | 2019 IFMA World Championships, Tournament Semifinals | Bangkok, Thailand | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
2019-07-25 | Win | Lucia Szabova | 2019 IFMA World Championships, Tournament Quarterfinals | Bangkok, Thailand | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
2019-07-22 | Win | Britney Dolheguy | 2019 IFMA World Championships, Tournament Opening Round | Bangkok, Thailand | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 3:00 | |
2018-11-18 | Win | Sultan Unal | 2018 EMF Antalya Muaythai Open, Tournament Finals | Antalya, Turkey | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
Wins the 2018 Antalya Open -60kg Gold Medal. | ||||||||
2018-11-17 | Win | 2018 EMF Antalya Muaythai Open, Tournament Semifinals | Antalya, Turkey | Decision | 3 | 3:00 | ||
2018-11-16 | Win | Ewin Ates | 2018 EMF Antalya Muaythai Open, Tournament Quarterfinals | Antalya, Turkey | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
2018-11-15 | Win | İlknur Kurt | 2018 EMF Antalya Muaythai Open, Tournament First Round | Antalya, Turkey | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
2018-07-29 | Win | Alejandra Romero Calvo | 2018 FISU World Muaythai Championships, Tournament Finals | Pattaya, Thailand | TKO | 2 | ||
Wins the 2018 FISU World Muaythai Championships -60kg Gold Medal. | ||||||||
2018-07-29 | Win | Tabtrai Keisnee | 2018 FISU World Muaythai Championships, Tournament Seminals | Pattaya, Thailand | TKO | 3 | ||
2018-07-07 | Win | Karolina Klusova | 2018 IFMA European Muaythai Championships, Tournament Finals | Prague, Czech Republic | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
Wins the 2018 IFMA European Muaythai Championships -60kg Gold Medal. | ||||||||
2018-07-04 | Win | Gia Winberg | 2018 IFMA European Muaythai Championships, Tournament Semifinals | Prague, Czech Republic | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
2018-07-02 | Win | Darya Bialkova | 2018 IFMA European Muaythai Championships, Tournament Quarterfinals | Prague, Czech Republic | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
2018-05-19 | Win | Ekaterina Vinnikova | 2018 IFMA World Muaythai Championships, Tournament Finals | Cancun, Mexico | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
Wins the 2018 IFMA World Muaythai Championships -60kg Gold Medal. | ||||||||
2018-05-18 | Win | Mariya Valent | 2018 IFMA World Muaythai Championships, Tournament Semifinals | Cancun, Mexico | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
2018-05-15 | Win | Nagihan Kalyoncu | 2018 IFMA World Muaythai Championships, Tournament Quarterfinals | Cancun, Mexico | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
2018-05-15 | Win | Isa Tidblad Keskikangas | 2018 IFMA World Muaythai Championships, Tournament Opening Round | Cancun, Mexico | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
2017-10-22 | Win | Ekaterina Vinnikova | 2017 IFMA European Muaythai Championships, Tournament Finals | Paris, France | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
Wins the 2017 IFMA European Muaythai Championships -60kg Gold Medal. | ||||||||
2017-10-21 | Win | Hanna Shytava | 2017 IFMA European Muaythai Championships, Tournament Semifinals | Paris, France | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
2017-10-20 | Win | Isa Tidblad Keskikangas | 2017 IFMA European Muaythai Championships, Tournament Quarterfinals | Paris, France | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
2017-07-30 | Win | Antje Van Der Molen | 2017 World Games, Bronze Medal Fight | Wroclaw, Poland | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
Wins the 2017 World Games -60kg Bronze Medal. | ||||||||
2017-07-29 | Loss | Svetlana Vinnikova | 2017 World Games, Tournament Semifinal | Wroclaw, Poland | Decision | 3 | 3:00 | |
2017-07-28 | Win | Marta Gusztab | 2017 World Games, Tournament Quarterfinal | Wroclaw, Poland | TKO | |||
2017-05-11 | Win | Anastasia Nepianidi | 2017 IFMA World Muaythai Championships, Tournament Final | Minsk, Belarus | Decision | 3 | 3:00 | |
Wins the 2017 IFMA World Championships -60kg Gold Medal. | ||||||||
2017-05-08 | Win | Gia Winberg | 2017 IFMA World Muaythai Championships, Tournament Semifinals | Minsk, Belarus | Decision | 3 | 3:00 | |
2017-05-07 | Win | Valeria Slizchenko | 2017 IFMA World Muaythai Championships, Tournament Quarterfinals | Minsk, Belarus | Decision | 3 | 3:00 | |
2017-05-05 | Win | Nathalie Visschers | 2017 IFMA World Muaythai Championships, Tournament First Round | Minsk, Belarus | TKO | 1 | ||
2016-11-26 | Win | Anaëlle Angerville | IFMA World Cup 2016 in Kazan, Tournament Final | Kazan, Russia | Decision | 3 | 3:00 | |
Wins the 2016 IFMA World Cup in Kazan -60kg Gold Medal. | ||||||||
2016-11-25 | Win | Ekaterina Vinnikova | IFMA World Cup 2016 in Kazan, Tournament Semifinals | Kazan, Russia | Decision | 3 | 3:00 | |
2016-05-28 | Win | Lryna Chernave | 2016 IFMA World Muaythai Championships, Tournament Final | Jonkoping, Sweden | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
Wins the 2016 IFMA World Championships -60kg Gold Medal. | ||||||||
2016-05-26 | Win | Ekaterina Vinnikuva | 2016 IFMA World Muaythai Championships, Tournament Semifinals | Jonkoping, Sweden | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
2016-05-24 | Win | Nina Scheucher | 2016 IFMA World Muaythai Championships, Tournament Quarterfinals | Jonkoping, Sweden | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
2016-05-19 | Win | Jacqueline De Beer | 2016 IFMA World Muaythai Championships, Tournament First Round | Jonkoping, Sweden | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
2015-10-31 | Win | Marija Malencia | 2015 WAKO World Championships, Tournament Final | Dublin, Ireland | Decision (Split) | 3 | 2:00 | |
Wins the 2015 WAKO World Championships K-1 -60kg Gold Medal. | ||||||||
2015-10-30 | Win | Alena Muratava | 2015 WAKO World Championships, Tournament Semifinal | Dublin, Ireland | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 2:00 | |
2015-10-29 | Win | Senay Cakir | 2015 WAKO World Championships, Tournament Quarterfinal | Dublin, Ireland | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 2:00 | |
2015-10-28 | Win | Sara Surrel | 2015 WAKO World Championships, Tournament First Round | Dublin, Ireland | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 2:00 | |
2015-08-16 | Loss | Valentina Shevchenko | 2015 I.F.M.A. Royal World cup , Tournament quarterfinals | Bangkok, Thailand | Decision | 3 | 3:00 | |
2015-08-15 | Win | Jacqueline De Beer | 2015 I.F.M.A. Royal World cup , Tournament First Round | Bangkok, Thailand | TKO | 3 | ||
2014-10-24 | Loss | Alena Muratava | 2014 WAKO European Championships, Tournament Semifinals | Bilbao, Spain | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 2:00 | |
Wins the 2014 WAKO European Championships K-1 -60kg Bronze Medal. | ||||||||
2014-10-22 | Win | Giulia Grenci | 2014 WAKO European Championships, Tournament Quarterfinals | Bilbao, Spain | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 2:00 | |
2014-10-21 | Win | Kubra Karabag | 2014 WAKO European Championships, Tournament First Round | Bilbao, Spain | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 2:00 | |
2014-09-24 | Win | Mariya Valent | 2014 IFMA European Muaythai Championships, Tournament Finals | Kraków, Poland | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
Wins the 2014 IFMA European Muaythai Championships -60kg Gold Medal. | ||||||||
2014-09-23 | Win | Nathalie Visschers | 2014 IFMA European Muaythai Championships, Tournament Semifinals | Kraków, Poland | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest Notes |