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Don Wilson (kickboxer)

Donald Glen Wilson, nicknamed "the Dragon", is an American former professional kickboxer, boxer, actor, and martial artist. An 11-time world champion who scored 47 knockouts in four decades, he has been called by the STAR System Ratings as "perhaps the greatest kickboxer in American history. He has disposed of more quality competition than anyone we've ever ranked". In 2015, he was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame.

Early years and training
Wilson was born to a Japanese mother and American father in Alton, Illinois. He utilized his mother's maiden name, Hoshino (), as a ring name while competing in Japan. He attended Saint Andrew's School in Boca Raton, where he was an MVP in football and basketball. Wilson also tried his hand at wrestling, in which he excelled enough to score a 4th place in the Florida State Collegiate Wrestling competition. After high school, Wilson was accepted into the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut in the fall of 1972. In 1973, Wilson left the academy and earned an associate degree in electrical engineering at Brevard Community College in Florida. He then enrolled at his father's alma mater, the Florida Institute of Technology, but dropped out to pursue a professional fighting career, to the elder Wilson's disappointment. During this time, he trained in Pai Lum White Dragon Kung Fu, a form derivative of Shaolin Kung Fu, taught by Danny K. Pai. Wilson was trained by Fred Schmitz, Pai's first black belt in America. Wilson himself typically refers to himself as a kung fu practitioner. Don's nickname, "The Dragon" was used in his first professional kickboxing match in Orlando, and came from his training in White Dragon style. == Kickboxing ==
Kickboxing
Wilson won a total of 11 world titles with several sanctioning bodies, including the IKF, WKA, KICK, ISKA, STAR and the PKO. In September 1979 he defeated Jimmy Horsley by TKO. Wilson had also negotiated for a 7-round fight, which the officials also neglected to honor. In March 1989 he fought Ferdinand Mack. Mack was winning on the cards by the 8th round, but Wilson won by TKO in the 9th. Wilson was scheduled to make a comeback at 58 years old, against an unnamed opponent in a ten-rounder in Istanbul, Turkey in 2013. However, at the last minute the fight in Istanbul was cancelled due to "breach of contract and non-performance of financial agreements". Wilson also fought several exhibition fights such as those against Bill "Superfoot" Wallace in 1979 and 1984, In June 2017 Wilson, at 63 years old, had a rematch against Ferdinand Mack in an exhibition bout 28 years after they originally fought. Kickboxing losses turned into no contests Early in Wilson's career, he lost three fights by decision; these losses were changed into no contests by the Professional Karate Association. Wilson's first career match was against Bill Knoblock and he lost a third decision. This match was later turned into a no contest by the Professional Karate Association as they listed it as an "amateur" match. "This amateur bout was part of Wilson's black belt examination." On May 28, 1976, in Tampa, Florida, Wilson lost a 5-round decision to Rudy Burney in a PKA sanctioned match. However, the PKA later overturned the decision for, "improper procedures that impeded fair competition." Finally, in September 1976, Wilson lost a 5-round points decision to Herb Thompson in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The PKA overturned the decision, citing improper procedures and inappropriate equipment which impeded fair competition. According to Inside Kung-Fu Presents Kickboxing Magazine (August 1992), Wilson's professional kickboxing record was listed as 69 wins, 5 losses, 2 draws, 46 knockout wins, and 6 kick-knockouts, and 3 no-contests. On page 64, Wilson's first match with Bill Knoblok in Orlando, Florida in December 1974 is listed as a 3-round no-contest. However, on page 52 in the same issue, Wilson said about his fight with Knoblok, "But Bill won the third round by a larger margin than I had won the first. So he won the bout." Today the official result of this fight was listed as a no-contest on Wilson's official fight record because when he decided to fight for PKA, Joe Corley felt the rules of the bout were quite different from those of PKA, Corley told Wilson to omit it. Fighting style Wilson was fairly notable thanks to his unique fighting style as used in the ring. He was ambidextrous, being able to switch stance on a whim and attack powerfully with either side,{{Cite web |title=The Kung Fu Champion| website=YouTube |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=4BNGXcrY5Dk He identified himself as mainly a kicker, claiming that was his forte and the reason why he never seriously considered boxing. He has a particularly devastating lead side kick, and was known to perform single-leg multiple kicks in rapid succession. Despite his focus on kicks, most of his KO's came through his punching, and he was particularly good with his lead (right) hook punch. == Professional boxing ==
Professional boxing
Wilson had a brief professional boxing career. Wilson said in a 2015 interview that he had a 6–3–0 professional boxing record with all three defeats by first round stoppage. Wilson's last boxing match took place against Tim Jones on October 21, 1986, at the Reseda Country Club in California. Wilson had a 6–2–0 record in professional boxing going into this match, while Jones was winless in 6 bouts. Wilson lost by TKO at 2:58 of the first round. Dennis Alexio, who lost a kickboxing match to Wilson, had already defeated Jones. Jones lost 4 of his next 5 boxing matches, and retired with a 2–10–1 record. Wilson also had an exhibition boxing match against USBA and NABA light-middleweight champion Jose Alfredo "Shibata" Flores. == Commentating ==
Commentating
Wilson was a fight commentator and interviewer in many of the early UFC events, beginning with UFC 7 in Buffalo. He stated several times that he would be willing to fight in the UFC himself if enough fans requested it, but it never happened. He went on to be a commentator for King of the Cage. == Film appearances ==
Film appearances
Some movies to his credit include: Futurekick, Bloodfist 1–8, Ring of Fire 1, 2 & 3, Out for Blood, Operation Cobra, Blackbelt, Cyber Tracker 1 & 2, Terminal Rush, Redemption, Say Anything..., Capitol Conspiracy, Moving Target, and Batman Forever as the leader of the Neon Gang. ==Kickboxing titles==
Kickboxing titles
• 2010 World Kickboxing Hall of Fame Champion • 2008 European Martial Arts Hall of Fame Member • 2000 I.S.K.A. Full Contact Cruiserweight North American Champion −190 lbs • 1999 I.K.F. Full Contact Cruiserweight World Champion −190 lbs • 1989 P.K.O. Full Contact Light Heavyweight World Champion −170 lbs • 1988–89 I.S.K.A. Full Contact Cruiserweight World Champion −182 lbs (0 title defences – vacated) • 1984 S.T.A.R. Undisputed Full Contact Light Heavyweight World Champion −175 lbs • 1984 W.K.A. Full Contact Super Light Heavyweight World Champion −184 lbs • 1984 S.T.A.R. Undisputed Full Contact Super Light Heavyweight World Champion −184 lbs • 1983–84 W.K.A. Full Contact Cruiserweight World Champion −190 lbs (0 title defences – vacated) • 1983 S.T.A.R. Undisputed Full Contact Cruiserweight World Champion −184 lbs • 1983–87 K.I.C.K. Full Contact Light Heavyweight World Champion −175 lbs (2 title defences) • 1980–91 W.K.A. Full Contact Light Heavyweight World Champion −175 lbs (9 title defences – vacated) • 1980 S.T.A.R. Undisputed Full Contact Light Heavyweight World Champion −175 lbs • 1979–80 P.K.A. Full Contact Middleweight United States Champion −170 lbs (2 title defences) • 1978–79 P.K.A. Full Contact Middleweight Florida State Champion −170 lbs (4 title defences – vacated) ==Professional kickboxing record==
Professional kickboxing record
== Professional boxing record ==
Professional boxing record
From BoxRec: {| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:80%; text-align:left; width:100%;" == Filmography ==
Filmography
Film Television Documentary appearances ==Awards==
Awards
Lifetime Achievement Honors: In 2015, he was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame. Inducted into the World Kickboxing League Hall of Fame (2011). Inducted into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame (2001). Recognized by STAR as the "Top-Rated Kickboxer of All Time" for his career spanning 1977 to 1989. World Record: Holds the 2002 Guinness World Record for winning the "Most Kickboxing World Titles." Annual Accolades: Wilson was a dominant force throughout the 1980s,consistently earning top honors from major publications. Fighter of the Year: Awarded this title by Official Karate magazine in 1984, 1985, and 1988. Also named "Mr. Kickboxing" by the WKA on NBC-TV's Sports World in 1984. Fight of the Year: His bouts were deemed classics, with his matches against Maurice Smith (1984), Jean-Yves Theriault (1985), and Branimir Cikatić (1988) all winning Official Karate magazine's "Fight of the Year." Additional Recognition: Named one of the "Top Kickboxers of the Year" in 1986. Honored as "Fighter of the Year" by American Karate magazine in 1988. ==References==
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