KICK BOXING

Kickboxing started in the US during the 1970's when American karate practitioners became frustrated with strict controls on martial arts competitions that didn't allow full contact kicks and punches. Many questions were raised when the sport began about the high risk of injury. As a result, safety rules were improved and protective clothing was added. As this is a relatively new sport there are no long-term traditions. The sport has undergone changes and been refined during the last two decades. Competitors use sparring, kicks, punches, kick blocks, shadow boxing, and wood breaking that is learned and applied under professional instruction.

REINHARD "BAD ASS" BADATO
THREE TIMES WKBF WORLD CHAMPION, 2X COMMONWEALTH CHAMPION, FOUR TIMES SOUTH PACIFIC CHAMPION AND EAST COAST CHAMPION. See more

BOXING

Boxing's origins can be traced all the way back to 688 B.C. in Greece, where it was an event in the Ancient Olympic Games. However, the sport didn't catch on in the United States until the late 1800s. Since that time, however, Americans have dominated the sport, capturing 47 of the 191 gold medals available. A decade and a half after being recognized in the U.S., boxing first appeared in the Modern Olympics at the 1904 Games in St. Louis, Mo. In recent years, the sport has reached out to females, who now compete in sanctioned amateur competition but do not yet compete in the Olympics. Among the now-famous professional boxers who started their careers in the amateur ranks are American gold-medal winners Muhammad Ali, Oscar De La Hoya, George Foreman, Leon and Michael Spinks, Floyd Patterson and Ray Leonard.

Australian Boxing Legends include:

- Jimmy Carruthers
- Rocky Mattioli
- Lionel Rose
- John Famechon
- Lester Ellis
- Jeff Fenech
- Barry Michaels
- Jeff Harding
- Kostya Tszyu
- Vic Darchinyan
- Robbie Peden
- Anthony Mundine
- Danny Green