Who is Christian ‘Coqqos’ Schembri?
Christian ‘Coqqos’ Schembri is an exciting, all action Middleweight from Malta – a country quickly becoming a hub for professional boxers.
His interesting backstory includes Larry Holmes, a Prime Minister, a horse, and making history post-Covid-19…
He next fights on September 30th on Fightzone TV.
The Man Behind the Gloves
Christian is married with a daughter.
A passionate advocate for animal rights, he has adopted a horse and uses his social media accounts to speak out against animal cruelty.
His influence extends to the culinary world, with various restaurants naming dishes after him, such as the 'Coqqos Knockdown' hamburger and the 'Team Coqqos Sushi Roll'. For part of his career, he also practised full veganism.
A bit of a local celebrity, Christian often appears on Maltese TV shows, radio programmes, and in newspaper articles.
Titles and Recognition
The World’s first spectator attended boxing event post Covid-19 lockdown was held in Malta in July 2020 with Christian’s bout as the main event. He also acted as co-promoter for the show.
His triumph for the UBO Intercontinental Middleweight title earned him an official meeting with the Prime Minister of Malta, highlighting his significant achievements and contributions to the nation's sports scene.
The World Boxing Council (WBC) published a feature about Christian on their official website owing to his remarkably aggressive and entertaining fighting style.
To date, he has fought for the WBC Youth Silver title; the WBF International title twice – winning it at the second attempt; the UBO Intercontinental title (Won); the IBO Continental title; and the Maltese national title at Middleweight (Draw) and Super Middleweight (Won). He has his sights firmly set on challenging for the WBC Mediterranean title before too long.
Legendary Support
Boxing legend Larry Holmes personally sent Christian a motivational video, wishing him success in his career, highlighting the respect and recognition he has gained for Maltese boxing.
Christian has been coached by a number of leading names within the industry and trained at gyms in New York, London, Stockholm, Budapest, and Leeds.
He received training from the esteemed Canadian boxer Donny Lelonde – a former WBC Light Heavyweight champion and opponent of Sugar Ray Leonard.
British icon Henry Wharton, a former British, Commonwealth, European champion, and three-time World title challenger also trained Christian in the UK and Malta. Wharton was in his corner when he challenged Nathen Healy for the vacant IBO Continental title.
Christian also benefited from training with the renowned Fury boxing family, namely Peter Fury and Hughie Fury, during their stay in Malta.
He regularly trains alongside EBU and WBC Mediterranean champion Haithem Laamouz, as well as Swedish Middleweight champion Niclas Elfstedt.
Debut and Trilogy
In his debut match back in 2015, Christian showcased his mettle by stepping into the ring against former Commonwealth Champion, Scott Dixon. The bout proved to be a thrilling spectacle, spanning 10 intense rounds. Although the victory went to Dixon via Majority Decision, Christian's determination and the fierce competitiveness of the bout garnered him widespread respect.
He would go on to have a trilogy of bouts with Dixon, gaining revenge in 2016 with a 10-round Split Decision win, before settling the debate with a comprehensive Unanimous Decision victory in 2020. All three bouts with Dixon were action-packed slugfests. You can watch the fight HERE
Other Roles in Boxing
Beyond being a professional fighter, Christian also occasionally takes on the role of a promoter, organising and hosting his own boxing events, contributing to the growth of the sport in Malta.
When not preparing for his own fights, Christian dedicates time to coaching amateur boxers as well as individuals seeking to enhance their self-confidence and fitness through boxing.
Article sponsored by HÖRFA