Manson Gibson
Encyclopedia
Manson "The Master Blaster" Gibson is a retired American
kickboxer and a nine time Muay Thai
and kickboxing
world champion. He was known for his vicious use of spinning techniques and awkward style and was sometimes referred to as the "Thai Killer". No stranger to controversy and a master of getting under his opponents skin Manson Gibson was nevertheless one of the United State's greatest ever kickboxers and is credited with over 100 wins and more than 80 KOs, including around thirty via headkicks.
super middleweight world champion belt, Manson found the competition at home (aside from two losses to Rick Roufus
) uninspiring. So in the late eighties and well into the nineties, 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
, Luc Verheye, Tosca Petridis
and Changpuek Kiatsongrit, often fighting under different rule sets such as Shoot boxing
, K-1
and Muay Thai
.
During his period spent fighting in Japan Manson 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 ight heavyweight kickboxers and the 1993 event was held in Tokyo
. In the tournament quarter finals he faced the highly decorated Ernesto Hoost
, 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, even knocking Hoost down with his trademark spinning backfist. However, despite the knockdown, the match went to an extra round and Manson lost the decision – a fight which some felt he did enough to win.
Manson returned to the United States around 1998, defeating a former legend (albeit an unfit, out of shape one) in Coban Lookchaomaesaitong
. The match in Compton, Los Angeles
, was one in which Manson, no stranger to controversy, 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 Manson also won the I.K.K.C. Muaythai world title by defeating fellow American Maurice Travis, also in Los Angeles
. Over the next couple of years he would defend his I.K.K.C. world title a further four times with the highlight being a second victory over x7 world champion Changpuek Kiatsongrit – although as with the Coban fight his match antics left a sour taste in the mouth.
Around 2002 age started catching up with Gibson who was approaching his forties and he lost his I.K.K.C. world title to the US based Frenchman Manu N'toh. A win against Heath Harris in 2004 for the I.K.F.
proved he could still be competitive, although his opponent Harris had only had a handful of pro fights prior to the encounter. Always one to try different fighting styles Gibson had a brief foray into MMA
in 2006, losing in just five seconds. By the end of 2009, with the losses stacking up after a series of unsuccessful title fights, Manson retired.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
kickboxer and a nine time Muay Thai
Muay Thai
Muay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...
and kickboxing
Kickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
world champion. He was known for his vicious use of spinning techniques and awkward style and was sometimes referred to as the "Thai Killer". No stranger to controversy and a master of getting under his opponents skin Manson Gibson was nevertheless one of the United State's greatest ever kickboxers and is credited with over 100 wins and more than 80 KOs, including around thirty via headkicks.
Biography and career
After a series of early career wins and claiming titles such as the K.I.C.K.Karate International Council of Kickboxing
The Karate International Council of Kickboxing is a sanctioning body that regulates kickboxing matches. It is considered among the more prestigious organizations that sanction professional kickboxing.-Early years:...
super middleweight world champion belt, Manson found the competition at home (aside from two losses to Rick Roufus
Rick Roufus
Rick Roufus is an American kickboxer, fighting out of The MMA Lab in Phoenix, Arizona. He is one of the most famous kickboxers in the United States, and has also competed in boxing and mixed martial arts...
) uninspiring. So in the late eighties and well into the nineties, while many American fighters were fighting one another for a multitude of so-called 'world titles', Manson headed across to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
where he fought and beat top fighters such as Caesar Takeshi
Caesar Takeshi
Caesar Takeshi is a Japanese former kickboxer and the founder of shoot boxing.- Career :*Asia Pacific Kickboxing Federation Welterweight champion *Asia Pacific Kickboxing Federation Middleweight champion...
, Luc Verheye, Tosca Petridis
Tosca Petridis
Tosca Petridis is a Greek-Australian former Kickboxer and Boxer.He was born in Melbourne, Australia, however is of Greek ethnicity...
and Changpuek Kiatsongrit, often fighting under different rule sets such as Shoot boxing
Shoot boxing
Shoot boxing is both a combat sport and a stand-up fighting promotion company based in Tokyo, Japan. The organization was founded by former kickboxer Caesar Takeshi in 1985....
, K-1
K-1
K-1 is a defunct world-wide kickboxing promotion based in Tokyo, Japan founded by Kazuyoshi Ishii, a formerKyokushin karate practitioner. K-1 combines stand up techniques from Muay Thai, Karate, Taekwondo, Savate, San Shou, kickboxing, western-style boxing, and other martial arts...
and Muay Thai
Muay Thai
Muay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...
.
During his period spent fighting in Japan Manson entered the inaugural K-2 Grand Prix in 1993. K-2 was a short lived series of tournaments held by the K-1
K-1
K-1 is a defunct world-wide kickboxing promotion based in Tokyo, Japan founded by Kazuyoshi Ishii, a formerKyokushin karate practitioner. K-1 combines stand up techniques from Muay Thai, Karate, Taekwondo, Savate, San Shou, kickboxing, western-style boxing, and other martial arts...
organization for ight heavyweight kickboxers and the 1993 event was held in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. In the tournament quarter finals he faced the highly decorated Ernesto Hoost
Ernesto Hoost
Ernesto Fritz "Mr. Perfect" Hoost is a Dutch former kickboxer and four-time K-1 World Champion. He made his debut in 1993 at the K-1 World Grand Prix 1993, where he came just one win short of the world title...
, 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, even knocking Hoost down with his trademark spinning backfist. However, despite the knockdown, the match went to an extra round and Manson lost the decision – a fight which some felt he did enough to win.
Manson returned to the United States around 1998, defeating a former legend (albeit an unfit, out of shape one) in Coban Lookchaomaesaitong
Coban Lookchaomaesaitong
Coban "The Cruncher" Lookchaomaesaitong is a Thai former Muay Thai kickboxer and World Champion. He won his first world title in 1985. He retired in 2000 after a 23-year career in Thailand and moved to New York to coach. He formerly coached at New York Jiu Jitsu in lower Manhattan and Daddis...
. The match in Compton, Los Angeles
Compton
-Canada:* Compton, Quebec* Compton County, Quebec* Compton , a former Quebec provincial electoral district now part of Mégantic-Compton* Compton , a former Quebec federal electoral district-England:...
, was one in which Manson, no stranger to controversy, 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 Manson also won the I.K.K.C. Muaythai world title by defeating fellow American Maurice Travis, also in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. Over the next couple of years he would defend his I.K.K.C. world title a further four times with the highlight being a second victory over x7 world champion Changpuek Kiatsongrit – although as with the Coban fight his match antics left a sour taste in the mouth.
Around 2002 age started catching up with Gibson who was approaching his forties and he lost his I.K.K.C. world title to the US based Frenchman Manu N'toh. A win against Heath Harris in 2004 for the I.K.F.
International Kickboxing Federation
The International Kickboxing Federation is a kickboxing sanctioning body. The IKF World Headquarters in the USA oversees IKF World Operations with the rest of the IKF World Team.-Styles:...
proved he could still be competitive, although his opponent Harris had only had a handful of pro fights prior to the encounter. Always one to try different fighting styles Gibson had a brief foray into MMA
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
in 2006, losing in just five seconds. By the end of 2009, with the losses stacking up after a series of unsuccessful title fights, Manson retired.
Titles
- 2004 I.K.F.International Kickboxing FederationThe International Kickboxing Federation is a kickboxing sanctioning body. The IKF World Headquarters in the USA oversees IKF World Operations with the rest of the IKF World Team.-Styles:...
Pro Muaythai light heavyweight world champion -81.3 kg - 1999 I.K.F.International Kickboxing FederationThe International Kickboxing Federation is a kickboxing sanctioning body. The IKF World Headquarters in the USA oversees IKF World Operations with the rest of the IKF World Team.-Styles:...
Pro Muaythai light cruiserweight North American champion -84.5 kg - 1998-02 I.K.K.C. Muaythai light heavyweight world champion (4 title defences)
- 1989 Shoot boxingShoot boxingShoot boxing is both a combat sport and a stand-up fighting promotion company based in Tokyo, Japan. The organization was founded by former kickboxer Caesar Takeshi in 1985....
Hawk Class world champion -75 kg - Ring Fighting Arts world champion
- U.K.F. super middleweight world champion
- K.I.C.K.Karate International Council of KickboxingThe Karate International Council of Kickboxing is a sanctioning body that regulates kickboxing matches. It is considered among the more prestigious organizations that sanction professional kickboxing.-Early years:...
light heavyweight world champion - K.I.C.K.Karate International Council of KickboxingThe Karate International Council of Kickboxing is a sanctioning body that regulates kickboxing matches. It is considered among the more prestigious organizations that sanction professional kickboxing.-Early years:...
super middleweight world champion - W.A.K.O.World Association of Kickboxing OrganizationsThe World Association of Kickboxing Organisations is one the international organization of kickboxing, and the governing body of Amateur kickboxing sport certified by SportAccord...
super middleweight world champion - W.K.A.World Kickboxing AssociationThe World Kickboxing Association is one of the oldest and the largest amateur and professional sanctioning organizations of kickboxing in the world for the sport. Its official name is "World Kickboxing and Karate Association"....
super middleweight world champion - I.K.L. middleweight Champion
Kickboxing record
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Mixed martial arts record
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See also
- List of kickboxing organizations
- List of male kickboxers
- List of K-1 Events
External links
- Official K-1 website
- Manson Gibson K-1 profile
- http://books.google.com/books?id=tM4DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA16&lpg=PA16&dq=master+blaster+muay+thai&source=bl&ots=8GRG-y_TPs&sig=b9WnCv8f8L-OAM2X89K-uFhQvmw&hl=en&ei=yhj1SvGRKIfU8AbO-6jzCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CBUQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=master%20blaster%20muay%20thai&f=false