World Kickboxing Network

In 1994, the World Kickboxing Network was founded as a subsidiary of (ISKA) to capture new markets. The ISKA's operations were concentrated in the North American market, while WKN was focusing in Europe, Asia & South America. In the 1990s there was strong competition between kickboxing federations. Both organizations split in late 1998 due to minor disagreements. The newly created team was chaired by Frenchman leader Stephane Cabrera with others persons as Billy Murray, Olivier Muller and others. {{cite web |title=American kickboxing History |url=https://www.dragonmmaacademy.com/Kickboxing.html|website=Dragon MMA Academy|date=3 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203210919/https://www.dragonmmaacademy.com/Kickboxing.html|archive-date=2020-02-03}}

On September 19, 1998, WKN became the first organization to promote a world championship in Muay Thai on the same event as a boxing world championship. Jérôme Le Banner vs. Espedito Da Silva for the WKN World super heavyweight Muay Thai title was sanctioned on the undercard of Evander Holyfield vs. Vaughn Bean for the WBA and IBF heavyweight titles at Georgia Dome in Atlanta.{{cite book |title=Vale Tudo Partnership|date=January 2000|access-date=7 August 2022|publisher=Black Belt Magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ks8DAAAAMBAJ&q=stephane+cabrera&pg=PA138 |language=en}} The event was organized in collaboration with promoter Don King whom raised the hand of Le Banner,{{cite web |title=Jérôme Le Banner, poing final|url=https://www.corsematin.com/articles/jerome-le-banner-a-ajaccio-42600|website=Corse-Matin|date=May 2014 |language=French|quote=1998 Champion du Monde de Muay Thaï W.K.N. des poids super-lourds}} crowned new WKN Muay Thai world champion after knocking out Da Silva in the first-round.{{cite web |title=Jérôme Le Banner, poing final|url=https://www.streetpress.com/sujet/1441294031-jerome-le-banner-poing-final|date=October 1998|website=Street Press|publisher=Karaté Bushido}}

• {{cite web |title=KARATE BUSHIDO n°261 OCTOBRE 1998 EN NUMERIQUE - Karaté Bushido |url=http://boutique.karatebushido.com/product.php?id_product=99837 |date=14 March 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314125643/http://boutique.karatebushido.com/product.php?id_product=99837 | archive-date=2022-03-14|publisher=Karaté Bushido}}

On October 22, 2004, WKN made history in kickboxing by promoting the first kickboxing world championship bout in Romania. Samir Mohamed vs. Alexander Kozachenko for the WKN World super lightweight title headlined the Eurosport and Pro TV televised event Local Kombat 10 in the city of Brăila.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}} The local Kombat promotion later developed into the Superkombat Fighting Championship,{{cite web|url=http://www.libertatea.ro/sport/iftimoaie-vedeta-la-cluj-100647|title=Iftimoaie, vedeta la Cluj|work=Libertatea|date=10 February 2005 |language=ro}}{{cite web|url=http://www.libertatea.ro/sport/festival-k-1-la-pro-tv-158148|title=Festival K-1, PRO TV|work=Libertatea|date=28 September 2006 |language=ro}} with its winners competing for the WKN titles.{{cite web|url=http://www.libertatea.ro/sport/ionut-iftimoaie-l-invins-pe-campionul-jorge-loren-obtinand-centura-mondiala-gala-de-retragere-1561664|title=Ionuț Iftimoaie a devenit campion mondial al versiunilor Superkombat și WKN în fața a 30.000 de oameni|work=Libertatea|date=7 August 2016 |language=ro}}{{cite web|url=http://www.stirilekanald.ro/ionut-iftimoaie-a-devenit--campion-mondial-al-versiunilor-superkombat-si-wkn_66789.html|title=Ionut Iftimoaie a devenit campion mondial al versiunilor Superkombat si WKN|work=Stirilekanald|date=8 August 2016 |language=ro}}

In January 2011, International Vale Tudo Championship (IVC) announced its return with a new ruleset based on the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts.{{cite web|url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Old-School-Vale-Tudo-Org-IVC-Returns-with-New-Rules-Cage-39527|title=Old-School Vale Tudo Org IVC Returns with New Rules, Cage|website=Sherdog|author=Marcelo Alonso|date=Jan 24, 2012}}

• {{cite web|url=http://www.sherdog.com/events/IVC-15-The-New-Era-54695|title=IVC 15 - The New Era|website=Sherdog|access-date=28 August 2022}} On August 20, 2016, WKN brought IVC back to the international scene by co-promoting Micheletti Vs. Ortiz for the WKN World super cruiserweight World title{{cite web|url=http://boxeando.net/2016/07/13/ivc-retorna-com-kickboxing/|title=IVC retorna com Kickboxing|work=Boxeando|language=pt|access-date=2016-08-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222151729/http://boxeando.net/2016/07/13/ivc-retorna-com-kickboxing/|archive-date=2016-12-22|url-status=dead}} in the main event of IVC 15 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The event also included MMA bouts.{{cite web|url=http://www.sherdog.com/events/IVC-15-The-New-Era-54695|title=IVC 15 - The New Era|work=Sherdog}}{{cite web|url=http://mmamais.com.br/felipe-micheletti-disputa-cinturao-no-ivc-15/|title=Felipe Micheletti disputa cinturão no IVC 15|work=MMA Mais|language=pt}}
• {{cite web|url=http://www.jornalcruzeiro.com.br/materia/723836/felipe-micheletti-disputa-o-cinturao-mundial-world-kickboxing-network|title=Felipe Micheletti disputa o cinturão mundial World Kickboxing Network|work=Cruzeiro do Sol|language=pt|access-date=2016-08-20|archive-date=2017-05-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510110605/http://www.jornalcruzeiro.com.br/materia/723836/felipe-micheletti-disputa-o-cinturao-mundial-world-kickboxing-network|url-status=dead}}
• {{cite web|url=http://boainformacao.com.br/2016/08/apos-15-anos-do-ultimo-evento-ivc-volta-a-ativa-neste-sabado-no-interior-de-sao-paulo-saiba-mais/|title=Após 15 anos do último evento, IVC volta a ativa neste sábado no interior de São Paulo; saiba mais|work=Boa Informacao|language=pt}}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• {{cite web|url=http://tvfight.tv/2016/08/18/saiba-mais-sobre-o-historico-ivc-que-estara-de-volta-neste-sabado-em-sorocaba/|title=Saiba mais sobre o histórico IVC que estará de volta neste sábado, em Sorocaba|work=Tvfight.tv|language=pt|access-date=2016-08-20|archive-date=2016-10-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012191229/http://tvfight.tv/2016/08/18/saiba-mais-sobre-o-historico-ivc-que-estara-de-volta-neste-sabado-em-sorocaba/|url-status=dead}}
• {{cite web|url=http://www.jornalcruzeiro.com.br/materia/724769/micheletti-derrota-argentino-e-conquista-o-cinturao-da-wkn|title=Micheletti derrota argentino e conquista o cinturão da WKN|work=Cruizero do Sul|language=pt}} Micheletti defeated Ortiz and took the title by knockout in the first round. After IVC 15, there were no more events and the organization is currently on hiatus.{{Cite web|title=International Vale Tudo Championship - IVC|url=https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/promotions/1791-international-vale-tudo-championship-ivc|access-date=2021-12-16|website=Tapology|language=en}} After IVC 15 there were no more events and the organization is currently on hiatus.{{Cite web|title=International Vale Tudo Championship - IVC - MMA Promoter|url=https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/promotions/1791-international-vale-tudo-championship-ivc|access-date=28 August 2022|website=Tapology|language=en}}

In 2014, WKN launched a world series of international kickboxing events named Simply the Best which was broadcast on FOX Sports{{cite web|url=http://mma.uno/simplemente-lo-mejor-del-kickboxing-argentina-fight-night-live-por-fox-sports-este-viernes/|title=Simply The Best "Argentina Fight Night" Live por FOX Sports Este viernes|work=MMA.uno|language=es}} and SFR Sport 5.{{cite web|url=http://www.kombatsport.lu/post/10077/en-juin-sur-sfr-sport-5|title=Kombat Sport – En Juin sur SFR Sport 5|work=Kombat Sport|language=fr}}

WKN World Cup 2009 Paceville, St. Julian's, Malta

The event took place in St. Julian's, Malta on September 19, 2009 with up to 13 countries partaking, including Malta, Corsica, Belgium, Egypt, France, Poland, UK, among others.{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2009-09-19/others/kickboxing-14-countries-represented-at-the-first-wkn-world-cup-in-malta-263508/|title=Kickboxing : 14 Countries represented at the first WKN World Cup in Malta - The Malta Independent|website=The Malta Independent|access-date=2019-06-24}}

WKN World Cup 2019 Auckland, New Zealand

The event was held from November 28 to November 30, 2019, as an amateur championship contested by international athletes in their respective weight classes. It took place at The Trusts Arena in Auckland, New Zealand with up to 60 countries participating. The event marked the first time kickboxing and mixed martial arts world championships were contested at the same event in New Zealand.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2019/06/combat-sport-world-cup-coming-to-new-zealand-in-november.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624061046/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2019/06/combat-sport-world-cup-coming-to-new-zealand-in-november.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 24, 2019|title=Combat sport World Cup coming to New Zealand in November|date=2019-06-21|work=Newshub|access-date=2019-06-24|language=en}} The WKN World Middleweight MMA title bout between Kelvin Joseph and Roan Carneiro{{Cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/combat-sports/113657294/mark-hunts-epic-battle-remembered-as-antonio-bigfoot-silva-announced-to-fight-in-auckland|title=Mark Hunt's epic battle remembered as Antonio 'Bigfoot' Silva announced to fight in Auckland|website=Stuff|date=20 June 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-06-24}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/martial-arts/news/article.cfm?c_id=1500900&objectid=12243845|title=MMA: Tauranga's Kelvin Joseph eyes world title fight in New Zealand|author=Adyn Ogle|newspaper=The New Zealand Herald|date=26 June 2019|language=en-NZ|issn=1170-0777}} as well as the WKN World Super Heavyweight championship bout between the champion Gregory Tony and former UFC Heavyweight title challenger and former Cage Rage World Heavyweight champion Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva were expected to headline the last day of competition.{{cite news |title=Kickboxing : Greg Tony s'attaque à "Bigfoot", la star de l'UFC|url=https://www.estrepublicain.fr/sport/2019/04/13/greg-tony-s-attaque-a-bigfoot-star-de-l-ufc|work=L'Est Républicain|date=13 April 2019}}

• {{cite news |title=WKN titelgevecht tussen Antonio 'Bigfoot' Silva vs. Gregory Tony krijgt datum|url=https://mmadna.nl/wkn-titelgevecht-tussen-antonio-bigfoot-silva-vs-gregory-tony-krijgt-datum/|website=MMA DNA|date=21 June 2019|author=Lennart Van Arendonk|language=Dutch}}
• {{cite news |title=WKN Kickboks Title UFC Veteraan Big Foot De Ring In|url=https://www.vechtsportinfo.nl/nieuws/kickboks-muay-thai-nieuws/wkn-kickboks-titel-ufc-veteraan-bigfoot-silva-de-ring-in/|website=Vech Sport Info|date=13 April 2019|author=Sean Va Dinter|language=Dutch}}
• {{cite news |title=Бигфут" Сильва подерется за титул чемпиона WKN в супертяжелом весе"|url=https://valetudo.ru/mma/news/bigfut-silva-poderetsya-za-titul-chempiona-wkn-v-supertyazhelom-vese|website=Vech Sport Info|access-date=28 August 2022|language=Russian}}

The fight between Tony and Silva was cancelled, as Silva was not medically cleared after being knocked out in his previous bout.{{cite news |title=MMA: Antonio 'Bigfoot' Silva withdrawn for scheduled fight at Kickboxing and MMA World Cup in New Zealand|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/mma-antonio-bigfoot-silva-withdrawn-for-scheduled-fight-at-kickboxing-and-mma-world-cup-in-new-zealand|work=The New Zealand Herald|issn= 1170-0777|language=en-NZ}} Carneiro won the fight against Joseph and took the title by submission in the first round.{{cite news |title=Roan 'Jucao' Carneiro wins WKN middleweight MMA title at NZ World Cup|url=https://www.mmaindia.com/roan-jucao-carneiro-wins-wkn-middleweight-mma-title-at-nz-world-cup|work=MMA India|date=2 December 2019|language=en-NZ}}

WKN World Cup 2017 Tehran, Iran

The event was held in Tehran, Iran on March 10, 2017 with 12 countries participating. {{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

• Tyrone Spong
• Jerome Le Banner
• Batu Khasikov
• Nathan Corbett
• John Wayne Parr
• Artem Levin
• Corentin Jallon
• Riyadh Al-Azzawi
• Vladimir Mineev
• Andrei Kulebin
• Yohan Lidon
• Xhavit Bajrami
• Dmitry Shakuta
• Alexander Ustinov
• Daniel Ghiță
• Cătălin Moroșanu
• Ionuț Atodiresei
• Amancio Paraschiv
• Ionuț Iftimoaie
• Nicolas Wamba
• Siniša Kovačić
• Ekaterina Vandaryeva
• Ondřej Hutník
• Youssef Boughanem
• Brandon Vieira
• Federico Roma
• Sudsakorn Sor Klinmee
• Jacko Ali
• Simon Dore
• Cristian Bosch

{{div col end}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.worldkickboxingnetwork.com/world-champions|title=Current WKN World champions|work=WKN}}

• {{cite web|url=http://www.worldkickboxingnetwork.com/european-champions/|title=Current WKN European champions|work=WKN|access-date=2016-08-16|archive-date=2016-08-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816140451/http://www.worldkickboxingnetwork.com/european-champions/|url-status=dead}}
• {{cite web|url=http://lasvegassun.com/news/2015/jun/25/tyrone-spong-bo-jackson-combat-sports-primed-big-k/|title=Tyrone Spong, the 'Bo Jackson of combat sports,' primed for Big Knockout Boxing bout|website=Las Vegas Sun|date=25 June 2015}}
• {{cite news|title=Moroccan Boughanem Brothers Become Muay Thai WKN World Champions|url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2019/04/271279/moroccan-boughanem-muay-thai-champion|website=Morocco World News|language=en}}
• {{cite web|url=http://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/haute-normandie/kick-boxing-jerome-le-banner-termine-sa-tournee-d-adieu-par-une-victoire-782277.html|title=Kick Boxing : Jérôme Le Banner termine sa tournée d'adieu par une victoire|work=France 3 Regions|date=5 August 2015|language=fr}}

WKN uses the following weight divisions.

• Kickboxing
• List of kickboxing organizations
• World Association of Kickboxing Organizations
• World Kickboxing Association

Books and articles

• {{in lang|fr}} [http://karate-norris-lewis-wallace.blogspot.com "A History of Full Contact Karate]
• [http://www.mikemiles.com/history1.html "A History of Kickboxing"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090319052048/http://mikemiles.com/history1.html |date=2009-03-19 }} – Mikes Miles
• {{in lang|fr}} Delmas Alain, Callière Jean-Roger, Histoire du Kick-boxing, FKBDA, France, 1998
• {{in lang|fr}} Delmas Alain, Définition du Kick-boxing, FKBDA, France, 1999
• Miles Mikes, site [http://www.mikemiles.com An interview with Joe Lewis, 1998]

{{Reflist|2}}

• {{URL | http://www.worldkickboxingnetwork.net/ | World Kickboxing Network (WKN) Official Website}}

Category:Kickboxing organizations

Category:Sports organizations established in 1994