Derek Panza
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
February 16, 1971
New York, New York, U.S.
| Derek Panza | |
|---|---|
| Born | Derek Panza February 16, 1971 New York, New York, U.S. |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) |
| Weight | 220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 lb) |
| Division | Heavyweight |
| Style | Boxing, Kickboxing, Karate |
| Fighting out of | Huntington, New York, U.S. |
| Team | Panza Kickboxing |
| Trainer | Yoel Judah |
| Years active | 16 (1995–present) |
| Kickboxing record | |
| Total | 23 |
| Wins | 22 |
| By knockout | 12 |
| Losses | 1 |
| Draws | 0 |
| Other information | |
| Website | www |
Derek Panza (born February 16, 1971) is an American kickboxer and boxer from Queens, New York. He was the ISKA World Heavyweight Kickboxing Champion and is undefeated as a professional boxer with a record of 7-0.[1] He currently trains fighters at Panza MMA, located inside world champion power lifter and bodybuilder Bev Francis' Powerhouse Gym in Syosset, New York.
Panza was born in Queens New York. He started training in Shotokan Karate at the age of 8 and was promoted to Black Belt by the age of 14. In 1986 at the age of 15 he won first place in kumite at National Junior Karate Championships. Soon after Panza began to compete in the men's over 18 black belt fighting division. By the age of 19 Panza had won numerous national and international karate championships and was ranked as the #1 heavyweight by the Professional Karate League (PKL) and number #2 by the North American Sport Karate Association (NASKA). Panza fought in sport karate as a member of the United States Karate Team and Paul Mitchell Sport Karate Team.
At the age of 21 Panza began transitioning his martial arts career from sport karate to boxing and kickboxing. A year later Panza won the New York Metropolitan Boxing Championship in the super heavyweight division. A year after that he made his professional kickboxing debut with a 57-second KO victory.
In 1997, Panza won his first World Kickboxing Championship by Knocking out UFC Legend Pat Smith.[2] he would go on to Capture the Prestigious ISKA World Heavyweight Kickboxing Championship with a Unanimous Decision win over England’s Simon Dore. Panza was also one of the original fighters that fought in the World Combat League, produced by Chuck Norris. After fighting for the WCL, Panza was appointed Head Coach for the World Combat League Team “The New York Clash”.
Notable wins
• KO of UFC Veteran Larry Cureton
• KO of UFC Veteran Dwayne Casom
• KO of UFC and K-1 Veteran Patrick Smith
• KO of K-1 Veteran Dennis Lane
• Unanimous Win Over K-1 Veteran Kelly Leo
• Unanimous Win over Sabaki Challenge Champion Clarence Thatch
• Unanimous Win over Simon Dore for ISKA World Championship