Stan Longinidis
Encyclopedia
Stan "The Man" Longinidis (born 25 June 1965) is a retired Australian Heavyweight
kickboxer and 8 time Kickboxing World Champion. Born in Australia of Greek
ethnicity, Longinidis is one of the few fighters to have won World titles in three different styles, International Rules Kickboxing, Full Contact
and Muay Thai
, others being Fred Royers
and Ernesto Hoost
.
, Stan quit his day job and traveled to live and train in the United States. He racked up 18 straight wins in the America and won the North American and USA Heavyweight Titles as well as the Australian professional title.
In April 1990 he became the first Australian to win a World Kickboxing Title when he took the K.I.C.K Full Contact Super Heavyweight Title and added two WKA World Titles to his resume in 1991, one being a record 15 second knockout of American Melvin Cole in Queensland
, Australia
.
In 1992 he defended his titles against Branko Cikatic
and Grant Barker, a top 10 heavyweight at the time.
After wins over Mitch O'Hello and Adam Watt
he took on Dennis Alexio
in the most eagerly anticipated superfight at the time and a huge media event in Australia. The fight lasted 7 seconds, with Longinidis dealing the famed American only his second loss in over 50 fights with a low kick in the opening seconds that broke Alexio's leg.
Stan continued to fight and defend his titles as well as adding two additional titles in 1993 and 1994. In 1993, Longinidis fought against Masaaki Satake for UKF World Super heavyweight title held by Satake and WKA Kickboxing World Super heavyweight title held by Longinidis on K-1, and Longinidis lost by decision. Although he lost the bout, he didn't lose his WKA title because he asserted that the bout was not under WKA rules after the bout.
He also became one of the K-1
corporations first contracted stars, competing in early K-1 Grand Prix's.
In 1996 he became the first westerner to fight for and win a prestigious WMC World Super heavyweight Muay Thai Title in Thailand
where he was crowned by the King of Thailand. Stan kept fighting on despite a serious knee injury that threatened to end his career, he had a complete knee reconstruction in 1997. He fought on until 2000 where he retired after beating Peter "The Chief" Graham
in Melbourne
, coming out of retirement for one fight in 2003 before calling it quits with an 88-8-5-65ko's record.
Longinidis was awarded in France
at a martial arts expo in 2000, a lifetime achievement award recognizing his major influential impact on the early days of the sport, and his status as one of the most famous names in the history of kickboxing.
Stan also successfully trained his younger brother George Longinidis
for a World Title fight which was held on 24 July 2009.
Heavyweight
Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Fighters who weigh over 200 pounds are considered heavyweights by the major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Council, and the World Boxing...
kickboxer and 8 time Kickboxing World Champion. Born in Australia of Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
ethnicity, Longinidis is one of the few fighters to have won World titles in three different styles, International Rules Kickboxing, Full Contact
Full Contact
Full Contact is a 1992 Hong Kong action film produced and directed by Ringo Lam. The film stars Chow Yun-fat, Simon Yam, Anthony Wong, and Ann Bridgewater. It was based upon Donald Westlake's novel The Hunter, with Chow Yun-Fat's character, Gou Fei, analogous to the novel's main character,...
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...
, others being Fred Royers
Fred Royers
Fred Royers is an Dutch former kickboxer who competed in the middleweight division. He was known for his powerful low kicks, which is now a staple of Dutch kickboxing.-Biography and career:Royers began practicing karate at the age of 16...
and 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...
.
Biography and career
Stan began his career in 1983, winning two amateur titles before challenging for the World Light Heavyweight Title in 1987, a contest ending in a draw. After being approached by the Jet Centre in Van Nuys, CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Stan quit his day job and traveled to live and train in the United States. He racked up 18 straight wins in the America and won the North American and USA Heavyweight Titles as well as the Australian professional title.
In April 1990 he became the first Australian to win a World Kickboxing Title when he took the K.I.C.K Full Contact Super Heavyweight Title and added two WKA World Titles to his resume in 1991, one being a record 15 second knockout of American Melvin Cole in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
In 1992 he defended his titles against Branko Cikatic
Branko Cikatic
Branko "The Croatian Tiger" Cikatić is a Croatian former heavyweight kickboxer, the first Croatian born fighter to achieve international success...
and Grant Barker, a top 10 heavyweight at the time.
After wins over Mitch O'Hello and Adam Watt
Adam Watt
Adam Watt is an Australian former boxer and kickboxer. He has studied kickboxing, Seido-kaikan karate, and boxing. He has been called the "Aussie Sniper" and later "Lights Out" because of his high level karate and boxing skills, and one punch knock out power...
he took on Dennis Alexio
Dennis Alexio
Dennis Raymond Alexio is an American former kickboxer. He was world champion as a light heavyweight and cruiserweight before moving up to heavyweight where, for a short time, he became the undisputed World Heavyweight Champion...
in the most eagerly anticipated superfight at the time and a huge media event in Australia. The fight lasted 7 seconds, with Longinidis dealing the famed American only his second loss in over 50 fights with a low kick in the opening seconds that broke Alexio's leg.
Stan continued to fight and defend his titles as well as adding two additional titles in 1993 and 1994. In 1993, Longinidis fought against Masaaki Satake for UKF World Super heavyweight title held by Satake and WKA Kickboxing World Super heavyweight title held by Longinidis on K-1, and Longinidis lost by decision. Although he lost the bout, he didn't lose his WKA title because he asserted that the bout was not under WKA rules after the bout.
He also became one of 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...
corporations first contracted stars, competing in early K-1 Grand Prix's.
In 1996 he became the first westerner to fight for and win a prestigious WMC World Super heavyweight Muay Thai Title in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
where he was crowned by the King of Thailand. Stan kept fighting on despite a serious knee injury that threatened to end his career, he had a complete knee reconstruction in 1997. He fought on until 2000 where he retired after beating Peter "The Chief" Graham
Peter Graham (kickboxer)
Peter "The Chief" Graham is an Australian kickboxer, boxer and mixed martial artist. His enterance music is AC/DC's Thunderstruck andhe has trademarked his special moves like his somersault kick, The Rolling Thunder.-Kickboxing:...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, coming out of retirement for one fight in 2003 before calling it quits with an 88-8-5-65ko's record.
Longinidis was awarded in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
at a martial arts expo in 2000, a lifetime achievement award recognizing his major influential impact on the early days of the sport, and his status as one of the most famous names in the history of kickboxing.
Stan also successfully trained his younger brother George Longinidis
George Longinidis
George "The Iron Lion" Longinidis Australian kickboxer of Greek descent. His brother, Stan, is also a well-known kickboxer.-Biography and career:...
for a World Title fight which was held on 24 July 2009.
Titles and accomplishments
- 1998 WKBF World Heavyweight champion
- 1996 WMTC World Heavyweight champion
- 1994 WAKO World Super Heavyweight champion
- 1993 ISKA World Heavyweight champion (Freestyle Rules)
- 1992 ISKA World Heavyweight champion (Oriental Rules)
- 1992 WKA World Super Heavyweight champion
- 1991 WKA World Junior Heavyweight champion
- 1990 KICK World Super Heavyweight Full Contact champion
- 1989 Intercontinental Heavyweight champion
- 1989 United States Heavyweight champion
- 1988 North American Heavyweight champion
- 1988 North American Heavyweight champion
- 1989 United States Heavyweight champion
Kickboxing record
| Kickboxing record | |
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Legend: |
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