Don "The Dragon" Wilson

Donald Glen Wilson (born September 10, 1954), nicknamed "the Dragon", is an American former professional kickboxer, boxer, actor, and martial artist. An 11-time world champion who scored 47 knockouts in four decades, he has been called by the STAR System Ratings as "perhaps the greatest kickboxer in American history. He has disposed of more quality competition than anyone we've ever ranked". In 2015, he was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame.

Wilson was a fight commentator and interviewer in many of the early Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events, beginning with UFC 7. As an actor, he is best known for starring in several B movie action films in the 1980s and 1990s, such as the Bloodfist series (from Bloodfist to Bloodfist VIII: Trained to Kill), the Ring of Fire series (from Ring of Fire to Ring of Fire III: Lion Strike), Red Sun Rising (1994), and the Cyber Tracker series (CyberTracker and CyberTracker 2).

Early years and training Wilson was born to a Japanese mother and American father in Alton, Illinois. He utilized his mother's maiden name, Hoshino , as a ring name while competing in Japan. He attended Saint Andrew's School in Boca Raton, where he was an MVP in football and basketball. Wilson also tried his hand at wrestling, in which he excelled enough to score a 4th place in the Florida State Collegiate Wrestling competition.

After high school, Wilson was accepted into the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut in the fall of 1972.

In 1973, Wilson left the academy and earned an associate degree in electrical engineering at Brevard Community College in Florida. He then enrolled at his father's alma mater, the Florida Institute of Technology, but dropped out to pursue a professional fighting career, to the elder Wilson's disappointment. During this time, he trained in Pai Lum White Dragon Kung Fu, a form derivative of Shaolin Kung Fu, taught by Danny K. Pai. Wilson was trained by Fred Schmitz, Pai's first black belt in America. Wilson himself typically refers to himself as a kung fu practitioner.

Don's nickname, "The Dragon" was used in his first professional kickboxing match in Orlando, and came from his training in White Dragon style.

Kickboxing

Wilson won a total of 11 world titles with several sanctioning bodies, including the IKF, WKA, KICK, ISKA, STAR and the PKO.

In September 1979 he defeated Jimmy Horsley by TKO. Wilson had also negotiated for a 7-round fight, which the officials also neglected to honor. In March 1989 he fought Ferdinand Mack. Mack was winning on the cards by the 8th round, but Wilson won by TKO in the 9th.

Wilson was scheduled to make a comeback at 58 years old, against an unnamed opponent in a ten-rounder in Istanbul, Turkey in 2013. However, at the last minute the fight in Istanbul was cancelled due to "breach of contract and non-performance of financial agreements".

Wilson also fought several exhibition fights such as those against Bill "Superfoot" Wallace in 1979 and 1984, In June 2017 Wilson, at 63 years old, had a rematch against Ferdinand Mack in an exhibition bout 28 years after they originally fought.

Kickboxing losses turned into no contests Early in Wilson's career, he lost three fights by decision; these losses were changed into no contests by the Professional Karate Association.

Wilson's first career match was against Bill Knoblock, and he lost a third decision. This match was later turned into a no contest by the Professional Karate Association, as they listed it as an "amateur" match. "This amateur bout was part of Wilson's black belt examination."

On May 28, 1976, in Tampa, Florida, Wilson lost a 5-round decision to Rudy Burney in a PKA sanctioned match. although he preferred to fight strong-side forward, which is a characteristic of some Chinese Martial arts like Pai Lum Tao Ng Ying Kungfu (Chinese: 五形功夫). Wilson is known for often using a bladed stance, a low lead hand and a high rear hand, typical of crab style fighters, at all ranges. Wilson's last boxing match took place against Tim Jones on October 21, 1986, at the Reseda Country Club in California. Wilson had a 6–2–0 record in professional boxing going into this match, while Jones was winless in 6 bouts. Wilson lost by TKO at 2:58 of the first round. Dennis Alexio, who lost a kickboxing match to Wilson, had already defeated Jones. Jones lost 4 of his next 5 boxing matches, and retired with a 2–10–1 record.

Wilson also had an exhibition boxing match against USBA and NABA light-middleweight champion Jose Alfredo "Shibata" Flores.

Commentating Wilson was a fight commentator and interviewer in many of the early UFC events, beginning with UFC 7 in Buffalo. He stated several times that he would be willing to fight in the UFC himself if enough fans requested it, but it never happened. He went on to be a commentator for King of the Cage.

Film appearances Some movies to his credit include Futurekick, Bloodfist 1–8, Ring of Fire 1, 2 & 3, Out for Blood, Operation Cobra, Blackbelt, Cyber Tracker 1 & 2, Terminal Rush, Redemption, Say Anything..., Capitol Conspiracy, Moving Target, and Batman Forever as the leader of the Neon Gang.

Kickboxing titles 2010 World Kickboxing Hall of Fame Champion 2008 European Martial Arts Hall of Fame member 2000 I.S.K.A. Full Contact Cruiserweight North American Champion −190 lbs 1999 I.K.F. Full Contact Cruiserweight World Champion −190 lbs 1989 P.K.O. Full Contact Light Heavyweight World Champion −170 lbs 1988–89 I.S.K.A. Full Contact Cruiserweight World Champion −182 lbs (0 title defences – vacated) 1984 S.T.A.R. Undisputed Full Contact Light Heavyweight World Champion −175 lbs 1984 W.K.A. Full Contact Super Light Heavyweight World Champion −184 lbs 1984 S.T.A.R. Undisputed Full Contact Super Light Heavyweight World Champion −184 lbs 1983–84 W.K.A. Full Contact Cruiserweight World Champion −190 lbs (0 title defences – vacated) 1983 S.T.A.R. Undisputed Full Contact Cruiserweight World Champion −184 lbs 1983–87 K.I.C.K. Full Contact Light Heavyweight World Champion −175 lbs (2 title defences) 1980–91 W.K.A. Full Contact Light Heavyweight World Champion −175 lbs (9 title defences – vacated) 1980 S.T.A.R. Undisputed Full Contact Light Heavyweight World Champion −175 lbs 1979–80 P.K.A. Full Contact Middleweight United States Champion −170 lbs (2 title defences) 1978–79 P.K.A. Full Contact Middleweight Florida State Champion −170 lbs (4 title defences – vacated)

Professional kickboxing record

Professional boxing record From BoxRec: Result Opponent Method Date Round Time Event Location