Manson Howard Gibson (born May 5, 1963) is a retired American kickboxer and a 12-time world champion in

kickboxing Kickboxing ( ) is a full-contact hybrid Martial arts, martial art and Boxing (disambiguation), boxing type based on punch (combat), punching and kicking. Kickboxing originated in the 1950s to 1970s. The fight takes place in a boxing ring, norma ...

and

Muay Thai Muay Thai or Muaythai (, , ), sometimes referred to as Thai boxing, the Art of Eight Limbs or the Science of Eight Limbs, is a Thai martial art and full-contact combat sport that uses stand-up striking, sweeps, and various clinch fighting, cl ...

. He was known for his vicious use of spinning techniques and wild, unpredictable style, mixing elements of kickboxing,

Taekwondo Taekwondo (; ; ) is a Korean martial art and combat sport involving primarily kicking techniques and punching. "Taekwondo" can be translated as ''tae'' ("strike with foot"), ''kwon'' ("strike with hand"), and ''do'' ("the art or way"). In ad ...

and

Northern Praying Mantis Northern Praying Mantis () is a style of Chinese martial arts, sometimes called Shandong Praying Mantis after Shandong, its province of origin. It is one of the best known styles of Northern Shaolin kung fu, "Northern" kung fu and it encompass ...

martial arts. He was sometimes referred to as the "Thai Killer" or the "Black

Bruce Lee Bruce Lee (born Lee Jun-fan; November 27, 1940 – July 20, 1973) was an American-born Hong Kong martial artist, actor, filmmaker, and philosopher. He was the founder of Jeet Kune Do, a hybrid martial arts philosophy which was formed from ...

". Gibson was one of America's greatest kickboxers, and is credited with over 100 wins and more than 80 KOs, including around 40 via headkick.

Biography and career

After a series of early career wins and claiming titles such as the K.I.C.K. Super Middleweight World Championship, Gibson found the competition at home (aside from two losses to

Rick Roufus Rick John Roufus (born June 3, 1966) is a retired American kickboxer. He has also competed professionally in boxing and mixed martial arts. An accomplished professional fighter throughout his competitive career, Roufus has won multiple world cham ...

) uninspiring. So in the late 1980s and well into the 1990s, while many American fighters were fighting one another for a multitude of so-called "world titles", Manson headed across to Japan where he fought and beat top fighters such as

Caesar Takeshi (born August 17, 1955), better known by his ring name , is a Japanese actor, retired kickboxer and the founder of shoot boxing.http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/2649221/ Career Murata started competing in kickboxing at age of 16, bei ...

Tosca Petridis Tosca Petridis (born Tasis Petridis, 30 October 1966) is an Australian former kickboxer and Boxing, boxer. He was born in Melbourne, however is of Greeks, Greek ethnicity. He lives in Melbourne. Kickboxing Tosca is a former 7 time World Kickbo ...

and

Changpuek Kiatsongrit Somchai Ropkwaen (; born October 13, 1966), known professionally as Changpuek Kiatsongrit () is a Thai former professional Muay Thai fighter and kickboxer. He is credited as being one of the first Muay Thai fighters to go abroad and fight other ...

, often fighting under different rule sets such as

Shoot Boxing , commonly written as Shootboxing, is a combat sport. Shoot boxing is also a stand-up fighting promotion company based in Tokyo, Japan. The organization was founded by former kickboxer Caesar Takeshi in 1985. Shootboxing, the combat sport, ...

K-1 K-1 is a professional kickboxing promotion established in 1993 by karateka Kazuyoshi Ishii. Originally under the ownership of the Fighting and Entertainment Group (FEG), K-1 was considered to be the largest Kickboxing organization in the worl ...

and

. During his period spent fighting in Japan, Gibson entered the inaugural K-2 Grand Prix in 1993. K-2 was a short lived series of tournaments held by the K-1 organization for Light Heavyweights and the 1993 event was held in Tokyo. In the tournament quarter finals he faced the highly decorated

Ernesto Hoost Ernesto Frits Hoost (born 11 July 1965) is a Dutch retired professional kickboxer. A four-time K-1 World Champion, Hoost is considered to be one of the greatest kickboxers of all time. Debuting in 1993 at the K-1 World Grand Prix 1993, where h ...

, with Hoost, the recent K-1 Heavyweight Grand Prix runner-up, the strong favorite and on his way to becoming a legend. Gibson proved in that fight that he could hang with the world's best, knocking Hoost down with his trademark spinning backfist. However, despite the knockdown, the match went to an extra round where Gibson again knocked down Hoost, this time with a sidekick. Gibson lost a split decision. Gibson returned to the United States around 1998, defeating a legend in Coban Lookchaomaesaitong. The match in Compton, was one in which Gibson had the MC announce himself as the "Thai Killer" and at the end of the fight did back flips next to the prone Coban. That year Gibson also won the I.K.K.C. Muaythai world title by defeating Maurice Travis, also in Los Angeles. Over the next couple of years he would defend his I.K.K.C. world title four more times with the highlight being a second victory over seven-time World Champion

– although as with the Coban fight his match antics left a sour taste in the mouth. On April 7, 2000 Gibson won the I.K.F. Pro Muay Thai Rules Light Cruiserweight North American title in Green Bay Wisconsin when he defeated Phil Petit of Sik Tai,

Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. It is centred on the confluence of the Red River of the North, Red and Assiniboine River, Assiniboine rivers. , Winnipeg h ...

, Canada by KO with a spinning backfist in the first round. Gibson retired his title in 2005 when he moved up in weight. When Gibson won this title it was called the Light Cruiserweight title but the weightclass was different: 175.1 lbs. - 182 lbs. The weightclass range was later changed but Gibson's title remained Light Cruiserweight. Around 2002 age started catching up with Gibson who was approaching his forties and he lost his I.K.K.C. world title to Frenchman Manu N'toh. A win against Heath Harris in 2004 for the I.K.K.C. proved he could still be competitive, although his opponent Harris had only had a handful of professional fights prior to the encounter. Always one to try different fighting styles Gibson had a brief foray into

MMA Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting sport based on striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-stylistic contests took place t ...

in 2006. By the end of 2009, with the losses stacking up after a series of unsuccessful title fights, Gibson retired.

Titles

*2004 I.K.K.C. Pro Muay Thai Light Heavyweight World Champion −81.3 kg *1999 I.K.F. Pro Muay Thai Light Cruiserweight North American Champion −84.5 kg *1998–02 I.K.K.C. Muay Thai Light Heavyweight World Champion (Four title defenses) *1989

Shoot boxing , commonly written as Shootboxing, is a combat sport. Shoot boxing is also a stand-up fighting promotion company based in Tokyo, Japan. The organization was founded by former kickboxer Caesar Takeshi in 1985. Shootboxing, the combat sport, ...

Hawk Class World Champion −75 kg *Ring Fighting Arts World Champion *U.K.F. Super Middleweight World Champion * K.I.C.K. Light Heavyweight Champion * K.I.C.K. Super Middleweight World Champion * W.A.K.O. (PRO) Super Middleweight World Champion * W.K.A. Super Middleweight World Champion *I.K.L. Middleweight Champion

Kickboxing record

, - , - bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 2009-12-05 , , Loss , , align=left, Shawn Yarborough , , WCK Muay Thai @ Buffalo Bill's , , Primm, NV, USA , , TKO (Quit) , , 2 , , 3:00 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - , - bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 2008-06-18 , , Loss , , align=left, Edwin Aguilar , , Muay Thai Fight Night , , Montego Bay, Jamaica , , TKO (Quit) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - , - bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 2007-07-07 , , Loss , , align=left, Denis Grachev , , Hot Summer Fights , , Inglewood, CA, USA , , TKO (Corner Stop/Knees) , , 3 , , 0:27 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - , - bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 2004-11-20 , , Loss , , align=left, Clifton Brown , , Matter of Pride 8 , , Los Angeles, CA, USA , , TKO (Leg Kicks) , , 4 , , , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 2004-10-21 , , Win , , align=left, Heath Harris , , Guts and Glory , , San Bernardino, CA, USA , , Decision (Unanimous) , , 5 , , 3:00 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - , - , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 0000-00-00 , , Win , , align=left, Bill Rastafar , , , , United States , , KO (Left Hook), , 1 , , , - , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 2003-00-00 , , Win , , align=left, Wrath White , , , , United States , , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - , - bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 2002-11-15 , , Loss , , align=left, Manu N'toh , , W.C.K. "A Matter of Pride VI" , , Victorville, CA, USA , , Decision (Unanimous) , , 5 , , 3:00 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - , - bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 2002-03-23 , , Loss , , align=left, Nick Karagiannidis , , Master Toddy Show @ Stardust Casino , , Las Vegas, NV, USA , , Decision , , 5 , , 3:00 , - , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 2001-12-14 , , Win , , align=left,

, , W.C.K. @ Palms Casino Resort , , Las Vegas, NV, USA , , KO (Spinning Heel Kick) , , 2 , , , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - , - bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 2000-12-02 , , Loss , , align=left, Robert Sarkozi , , 10th World Shidokan Invitational, Quarter Finals , , Chicago, IL, USA , , DQ (Constant Fouling) , , 4 , , , - , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 2000-07-04 , , Win , , align=left, Phil Petit , , Stadium View Sports Bar , , Green Bay, WI, USA , , KO (Spinning Back Fist) , , 1 , , , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 1999-09-11 , , Loss , , align=left, Richard Stellwagen , , Summer Brawl , , Franklin Park, IL, USA , , Decision (Split) , , 8 , , 2:00 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 1998-07-07 , , Win , , align=left, Coban Lookchaomaesaitong , , Crystal Park Casino Outdoor Show , , Los Angeles, CA, USA , , TKO (Right Back Kick) , , 5 , , 1:59 , - , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 1998-06-27 , , Win , , align=left, Maurice Travis , , , , Los Angeles, CA, USA , , Decision , , 5 , , 3:00 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 1998-04-26 , , Win , , align=left,

, ,

Shooto is a combat sport and mixed martial arts organization that is governed by the Shooto Association and the International Shooto Commission (ISC). Shooto was originally formed in 1985, first as a particular fighting system and then in 1989 as a ...

"Shoot the Shooto XX" , ,

Tokyo, Japan Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , - , - bgcolor="#c5d2ea" , 1996-07-14 , , Draw , , align=left, Yarsin Loogklongtan , , Shoot Boxing - S-Cup 1996, Super Fight , ,

, , 2 Ext.R Decision Draw , , 5 , , 3:00 , - , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 1995-10-15 , , Win , , align=left, Luc Verheye , , , MA Japan Kickboxing Federation , ,

, , Decision , , 5 , , 3:00 , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , - , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 1995-03-25 , , Win , , align=left, Bartolomeo Danbrosio , , World Cup Of Martial arts , , Ledyard, CT, USA , , KO , , 1 , , 0:31 , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 1994-06-10 , , Win , , align=left, Taro Minato , , , , Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA , , KO , , 3 , , 2:34 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 1994-00-00 , , Win , , align=left, Sergei Mayfat , , HardKnock 4 , , Atlantic City, NJ, USA , , Decision , , 10 , , 2:00 , - , - bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 1993-12-29 , , Loss , , align=left,

, , K-2 Grand Prix '93, Quarter Final , ,

, , Ext.R Decision (Majority) , , 4 , , 3:00 , - , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 1993-01-30 , , Win , , align=left, Taro Minato , , MA Japan Kickboxing Federation , ,

, , Decision , , 5 , , 3:00 , - , - bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 1992-07-30 , , Loss , , align=left,

Taiei Kin Kin Taiei (; born July 8, 1970) is a Korean-Japanese light heavyweight karateka, kickboxer and mixed martial artist competing in K-1 and DREAM. Before switching to MMA, Kin was a distinguished fighter in the K-1, praised by both Peter Aerts ...

, , Seidokaikan Kakutogi Olympic II , ,

, , DQ (Illegal Punch) , , 4 , , , - , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 1992-03-21 , , Win , , align=left, Sayidkhan Kiatpathan , , Martial Arts Japan Kickboxing Association , , Japan , , TKO (Spinning High Kick) , , 2 , , , - , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 0000-00-00 , , Win , , align=left, Luc Verheye , , , ,

, , Decision , , 5 , , 3:00 , - , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 1990-07-06 , , Win , , align=left, Hideo Suzuki , , '90 Kakutougi no saiten , ,

, , KO , , 2 , , 1:58 , - , - , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 1990-07-01 , , Win , , align=left, Naoyuki Taira , , Shoot boxing BATTLE GAME , ,

, , KO , , 4 , , 4:01 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 1990-01-03 , , Win , , align=left, Koichi Koide , , Dojo 20th Anniversary kick , ,

, , KO , , 1 , , , - , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 0000-00-00 , , Win , , align=left, Johnny Davis , , , , United States , , KO , , 9 , , , - , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - , - bgcolor="#CCFFCC" , 1989-05-26 , , Win , , align=left,

, , Tokyo Korakuen Hall Shoot Boxing , ,

, , KO (Spinning Mid Kick) , , 1 , , 4:28 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - , - bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 1989-04-01 , , Loss , , align=left,

, , , , United States , , Decision , , , , , - , - bgcolor="#FFBBBB" , 1987-00-00 , , Loss , , align=left,

, , , , United States , , Decision , , , , , - , - , colspan=9 , ''Legend'':

Mixed martial arts record

, - , - bgcolor="#c5d2ea" , 1996-01-27 , , Draw , , align=left,

Yoji Anjo (born March 28, 1967) is a retired Japanese professional wrestler, mixed martial artist and kickboxer. Anjo is considered to be one of the pioneers of the shoot style movement during the 1980s and early 90s. Professional wrestling career Uni ...

, , Shootfighting Carnival Ground Zero Yokohama ~Fighting Festival , ,

Yokohama, Japan is the second-largest city in Japan by population as well as by area, and the country's most populous municipality. It is the capital and most populous city in Kanagawa Prefecture, with a population of 3.7 million in 2023. It lies on Tokyo B ...

, , Draw , , 1 , , 20 minutes 1R end Time limit , - , - , colspan=9 , ''Legend'':

References

External links