The Dragon After He Won His IKF World Title in 1999! -
His 11th World Title!-
|
Don "The Dragon" Wilson has been
globe trotting all around the world the past several years spreading the word of
Unity among Martial Arts.
One of his most recent Movies is The Martial Arts Kid
which is an Action /Family movie about a troubled teen from Cleveland (Jansen
Panettiere) who experiences bullying in Cocoa Beach, Florida. He
soon learns Martial Arts to gain confidence and self defense skills.
The film is directed by Michael Baumgarten and was
written by Michael Baumgarten and Adam W. Marsh. Wilson
is one of the stars of the film which also includes Martial Arts Star
Cynthia 'Lady
Dragon' Rothrock.
For a trailer of the film click HERE.
Here is an additional short teaser made for and played at the
2014 Comic Con in San Diego. The film addresses the serious issue of
bullying and raises the issue of responsibility that martial arts instructors
should have for their students. The film represents all martial arts rather than
a single style. Click
HERE
Since work on
The Martial Arts Kid Don has been
working on other films set to debut in 2015 or still in production such as;
- Killing the Seeds
- The Masters Legacy
- The Reel Deal (TV Series)
- Devotion (pre-production)
- White Tiger (post-production)
- One More Round (post-production)
- Marta Steel
- The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power
- Along with Wilson, also in this film is MMA fighter's Roy "Big
Country" Nelson, Royce Gracie and Antonio "Big Foot" Silva.
- The Whole World at Our Feet
His film schedule is not the only thing getting him out of the
house and on a plane. Don has been hoping around the world this past
year doing special Martial Arts appearances and Martial Arts and Kickboxing
seminars crisscrossing the USA and jumping around from continent to continent.
With all this, we are once again proud to
announce "The Dragon" will take time out of his whirlwind
schedule to be In The House At This Years 2021 IKF World Classic.
A little more about "The
Dragon"... In 1999 at 45 years of age, Don won
his IKF World Title on May 15th, 1999 in
Lowell, Massachusetts, USA, when he defeated Dick Kimber.
(Lynn, Massachusetts, USA PRO: 23-3/21, AM: 25-0/25 5'9" 197 ) Kimber
swore to everyone that he'd have the fight over before the fifth round. However
when the
Dragon unloaded on Kimber in round three, Kimber dropped
to the mat and referee Dan Stell counted him out on the floor, a count
that went into the round break. Kimber never stood during the count and
to this date, Kimber never fought again. It had been over eight years
since Don last entered the ring, but his trademark sidekick was stronger
than ever. Wilson picked up the IKF
Cruiserweight World Title for his efforts and Kimber kept his promise
when this one was over in round 3. Still to this day, Don's purse of
$150,000 (Plus travel and some additional training expenses) is the
highest purse EVER paid for a single bout . Having never been challenged
for his title, Don voluntarily retired it to move down to the Light
Heavyweight Division.
Don's Professional Kickboxing Record is 71 wins, 5
loses and 2 draws with 47 wins coming by the Knockout. He's been regarded as one
of the greatest kickboxer of all time. Up and coming Amateur Kickboxers will get
a chance to rub shoulders with him all weekend long because he will be "In
The House" at the
2021 IKF World Classic
Amateur Championship Tournament on July 2nd, 3rd & 4th, 2021, in
Orlando, Florida, USA.
During his career Don won a total of 11 World Titles
with several Sanctioning bodies that included the IKF, WKA, KICK, ISKA, STAR
and the PKO. Never backing down from a challenge, Don has fought
champions all around the world, in Hong Kong, Japan, Italy, Canada, Germany,
Great Britain, Thailand, Las Vegas and countless other locations.
Over his career Wilson fought and defeated many Great
fighters such as James Warring, Demetrius Edwards, Maurice Smith, Dennis
Downey, Dennis Alexio, Branimir Cikatic, Mike Winkeljohn, Herb Thompson, Greg
Smith, Muhammed Ashraf Tai, Panya Sornnoi, Pongdienoi Prasobchai, Rob Salazar,
and a very controversial Draw against
Jean-Yves Theriault which many thought Wilson clearly won.
After his first retirement from the ring, Wilson went on to yet
another level of stardom as an action movie star. Movies to his credit include:
The Last Sentinel (2007), Soft Target (2006), Sci-Fighter (2004),
Stealing Harvard (2002), Redemption (2002), Moving Target (2000), The Capitol
Conspiracy (1999), Whatever It Takes (1999), Inferno aka Operation Cobra
(1998), Hollywood Safari (1997), Papertrail (1997), Night Hunter (1996),
Virtual Combat (1996), Bloodfist VIII: Trained to Kill (1996), Cyber-Tracker 2
(1995), Bloodfist VII: Manhunt (1995), Batman Forever (1995), Ring of Fire 3:
Lion Strike (1995), Bloodfist VI: Ground Zero (1995), Terminal Rush (1995),
CyberTracker (1994), Red Sun Rising (1994), Bloodfist V: Human Target (1994),
Out for Blood (1993), Ring of Fire II: Blood and Steel (1993), Bloodfist IV:
Die Trying (1992), Blackbelt (1992), Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight (1992),
Ring of Fire (1991), Future Kick (1991), Bloodfist II (1990), Bloodfist
(1989) and
Say Anything... (1989).
During this time Don married well known Film and
Television Makeup artist Kathleen Karridene in 1996. They have three
children together; Jonathan, Drayden, and Aubrianna. Over the
course of his career Don won 11 world titles in 3 different weight
divisions, something no other fighter has accomplished. Here is a list of his 11
World titles and some of his awards.
- Wilson's World Titles
- 1999, IKF Cruiserweight World
Champion (190 lbs.)
- 1989, PKO Light-Heavyweight World Champion (170 lbs)
- 1988, ISKA Cruiserweight World Champion (182 lbs)
- 1984, STAR Super Light-Heavyweight World Champion (184 lbs)
- 1984, WKA Super Light-Heavyweight World Champion (184 lbs)
- 1983, STAR Cruiserweight World Champion (184 lbs)
- 1983, WKA Cruiserweight World Champion (190 lbs)
- 1983, KICK Light-Heavyweight World Champion (175 lbs)
- 1982, WKC Light-Heavyweight World Champion (175 lbs)
- 1980, STAR Light-Heavyweight World Champion (175 lbs)
- 1980, WKA Light-Heavyweight World Champion (175 lbs)
- Additional Titles
- 2000 - ISKA North American Cruiserweight Title
- 1979 - PKA Middleweight United States Champion (170 lbs)
- 1978 - PKA Middleweight Florida State Champion (170 lbs)
- Awards
- 1988, STAR Fighter of the Year
- 1985, STAR Fighter of the Year
- 1984, STAR Fighter of the Year
- 1984, STAR Career Champion: Highest Rated Kickboxer of All Time
- 1984, Black Belt Hall of Fame
- 1984, Official Karate Hall of Fame
- 1983, Official Karate Magazine's Fighter of the Year
For more about
Don Wilson click HERE!
For a fun "Comedy" clip with Cynthia
and Master Ken Click
HERE. |
Exhibition with Bill Wallace -
1979- -They never actually fought-
Don VS Kimber
|