Ronnie Green (kickboxer)

Green became a world champion in kickboxing and was the first British person to do so.^[4] Green also won titles in four different weight divisions.^[5] Green was raised in Manchester and first began training in martial arts in 1974, taking up judo and karate. Green began his training with Thohsaphon "Master Toddy" Sitiwatjana at his Deansgate gym in Manchester, England, in 1977.^[6][7][5] After wins in the Netherlands and France, Green became the first Brit to win a kickboxing match in Thailand by defeating Lamnak Pitiporn at Rajadamnern Stadium in March 1983.^[8] Green won the European Muay Thai title in by defeating Yasunori Suda in July 1983 and the World WKA Super Featherweight title in 1984 by defeating Joao Vieira in Amsterdam. Green fought Sombat Sor Thanikul to a draw in 1990 in London, an event that was one of the first kickboxing championships broadcast from the UK to Thailand. In a rematch ten months later, he defeated Thanikul, won the IMF World Title.^[3] in 1992 he fought Samaisuk Chuwattana twice for the Muay Thai World Title winning the first fight by decision and lost the rematch by knockout. He formally retired from fighting in 2002. He accomplished the World Kickboxing Association (WKA) light middleweight and super welterweight full contact titles, IMF title, European Muay Thai title, and the Muay Thai world title.^[2][9]