Constantin
Rusu

Constantin Rusu is a Moldovan kickboxer who has built a reputation as one of the strongest welterweight fighters from Eastern Europe. Known for his aggressive style and knockout power, he competes in the 77 kg division and fights out of Lion Fight Academy.

Rusu was born on May 17, 1994, in the city of Soroca, Moldova. He grew up in a family connected to agriculture, where working the land was part of everyday life. For many years it seemed that he might follow the same path as his parents, but as a teenager he began searching for a different direction.

At the age of 16 he discovered kickboxing, a moment that would change his life. The sport quickly became his main focus, and he started training seriously under coach Sasha Petcoglo. Through discipline and constant work in the gym, Rusu developed into a powerful and determined fighter.

He turned professional in 2016 and soon began making his name in the European kickboxing scene. Competing in promotions across the region, Rusu steadily improved his record and gained recognition for his forward pressure and finishing ability. His performances earned him the nickname “Lioncrusher.”

One of the key moments early in his career came in 2018 when he won the King of Kings (KOK) Welterweight Hero’s Tournament, defeating Matteo Calzetta and Dorel Cristian on the same night. The victory helped establish him as a rising talent in the division.

Rusu continued to build momentum in the following years, earning victories over strong opponents, including two-time WBC Muay Thai World Champion Cheick Sidibé. He later captured the FEA Welterweight (-77 kg) title, stopping Alan Scheinson before knocking out Dorel Cristian in the tournament final in under a minute.

After an uneven start to his professional career, Rusu found his rhythm and put together an impressive run, winning 26 of 35 fights against high-level competition. His performances drew international attention, and he was ranked among the top welterweight kickboxers in the world by Beyond Kick.

In 2022 Rusu signed with ONE Championship and successfully debuted with a unanimous decision victory over Marouan Toutouh, scoring a knockdown with a spinning backfist. Later that year he stepped in on short notice to face former ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Title challenger Islam Murtazaev and earned another unanimous decision win.

Over the course of his career Rusu has competed in several international promotions, including SENSHI, KOK, FEA, Colosseum Tournament, and ONE Championship. Fighting out of Moldova, he continues to pursue success on the global kickboxing stage while representing a new generation of Eastern European strikers.