World Kickboxing Network


The World Kickboxing Network is a professional Kickboxing organization and is one of the sport's largest governing bodies in the world.

History

WKN was created in late 1994 as a subsidiary of International Sport Karate Association to capture new markets, as ISKA's operations were concentrated in the North American market. The organizations split in late 1998. Ever since WKN operates as an independent organization. Whilst in the late 1990s and the beginning of the 2000s the other federations competed with each other, the WKN has developed kickboxing on the territories where it practically did not exist. As a result WKN grew, and is active on five continents.

Facts

On September 19, 1998 WKN went in history as the first organization to promote the world championship in Muay Thai at the same event as the boxing world championship. Jérôme Le Banner vs. Espedito Da Silva for the WKN super heavyweight world title in Muay Thai featured in the undercard of Evander Holyfield vs. Vaughn Bean for the WBA and IBF heavyweight titles at Georgia Dome in Atlanta, USA.
On October 22, 2004 WKN made history in kickboxing by promoting the first ever world championship bout in Romania. Samir Mohamed vs. Alexander Kozachenko for WKN super lightweight world title headlined the Eurosport and Pro TV televised event Local Kombat 10 in the city of Brăila. The Local Kombat project developed into the Superkombat Fighting Championship, with its winners to date competing for the WKN belts.
On March 15, 2003 WKN made history by promoting the first ever Kickboxing event as well as the world championship bout in Nigeria. Habib Bakir vs. Fernando Loureiro for the WKN lightweight world title headlined the event that took place in the city of Lagos.

Styles

WKN sanctions the championship bouts of the following styles.
WKN uses the following weight divisions.
Weight class nameUpper limit
Flyweight
Super Flyweight
Bantamweight
Super Bantamweight
Featherweight
Super Featherweight
Lightweight
Super Lightweight
Welterweight
Super Welterweight
Middleweight
Super Middleweight
Light Heavyweight
Super Light Heavyweight
Cruiserweight
Super Cruiserweight
Heavyweight
Super HeavyweightUnlimited

Notable Champions

Poland's Cezary Podraza is the first in WKN history world champion. He defeated England's Mark Waters in Katowice.
Some of the notable champions are Samir Mohamed, Tyrone Spong, Jerome Le Banner, Batu Khasikov, Nathan Corbett, John Wayne Parr, Artem Levin, Riyadh Al-Azzawi, Jorge Cali, Vladimir Mineev, Andrei Kulebin, Yohan Lidon, Xhavit Bajrami, Dmitry Shakuta, Alexander Ustinov, Daniel Ghiță, Cătălin Moroșanu, Lucian Danilencu, Ionuț Atodiresei, Amancio Paraschiv, Ionuț Iftimoaie, Nicolas Wamba, Siniša Kovačić, Ekaterina Vandaryeva, Ondřej Hutník, Youssef Boughanem, Brandon Vieira, Federico Roma, Gary Hamilton, Corentin Jallon, Jacko Ali.
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The WKN World Cup is an amateur championship contested by international athletes in their respective weight classes.
The event is scheduled from November 28 to November 30 at The Trusts Arena in Auckland, New Zealand with up to 60 countries participating. The roster includes over 30 amateur title matches, followed by two professional title bouts. The headline-bout contested on the last day of competition is expected to see Gregory Tony in defense of his WKN World Super Heavyweight title against Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva, following the WKN World Middleweight MMA title bout between Kelvin Joseph and Roan Carneiro.
The event was held on March 10, 2017 with over 12 countries participating, including Iran, Japan, Italy, Malta, Afghanistan, Cyprus, France, Belgium. Japanese referee Atsushi Onari officiated the bouts.
The event was billed as "Malta vs. The World" taking place on September 19, 2009 with up to 13 countries partaking, including Malta, Corsica, Belgium, Egypt, France, Poland, UK, among others.

WKN and IVC

WKN and its president Stephane Cabrera represent the International Vale Tudo Championship in Europe, being the pioneer to promote MMA bouts on the continent. The WKN held IVC events in Finland, Spain, Czech Republic, Bosnia and Serbia.
On August 20, 2016 WKN brings IVC back to the international scene by promoting Micheletti Vs. Ortiz for the WKN super cruiserweight world title in the main event of IVC 15 in Sorocaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Simply the Best (TV Series)

- is the worlds series of international kickboxing events, broadcast by SFR Sport 5.
Season I
Season II
Season III
Season IV
is a series of women's kickboxing tournaments produced by the World Kickboxing Network and the Bigger's Better Boxing on SFR Sport 5 and B1B. The contest is a one-night eight-woman single elimination tournament in a featherweight class with international competitors battling out for the WKN belt.
Season I
Season II