Vitali Klitschko - Kickboxing

Kickboxing

Originally Klitschko was an amateur kickboxer. In 1992 he was knocked out by a kick in the final of the European Kickboxing Championships +89 kg light contact division by Englishman Pelé Reid. In 1993 he defeated Ryushi Yanagisawa in the Japanese mixed martial arts promotion Pancrase under WKA Special Rules (no low kicks) via R5 decision. In 1994 he defeated Richard Vince by second round KO to retain his ISKA World Super Heavyweight title. In 1996 he turned professional and compiled a record of 34–1 with 22 knockouts. He was a world champion six times (professional and amateur).