The World Kickboxing Network (WKN) is an international Kickboxing governing body established in 1994.^[1]

History

In 1994, the World Kickboxing Network was founded as a subsidiary of International Sport Karate Association (ISKA) to capture new markets. The ISKA's operations were concentrated in the North American market, while WKN was focusing in Europe. In the 1990s there was strong competition between kickboxing federations.^[1] Both organizations split in late 1998 due to minor disagreements. The newly created team was chaired by Frenchman Stephane Cabrerra, Billy Murray and Olivier Muller.^[2]

On September 19, 1998, WKN became the first organization to promote a world championship in Muay Thai on the same event as a boxing world championship. Jérôme Le Banner vs. Espedito Da Silva for the WKN World super heavyweight Muay Thai title was sanctioned on the undercard of Evander Holyfield vs. Vaughn Bean for the WBA and IBF heavyweight titles at Georgia Dome in Atlanta.^[3] The event was organized in collaboration with promoter Don King whom raised the hand of Le Banner,^[4] crowned new WKN Muay Thai world champion after knocking out Da Silva in the first-round.^[5]

On October 22, 2004, WKN made history in kickboxing by promoting the first kickboxing world championship bout in Romania. Samir Mohamed vs. Alexander Kozachenko for the WKN World super lightweight title headlined the Eurosport and Pro TV televised event Local Kombat 10 in the city of Brăila.^{[citation needed]} The local Kombat promotion later developed into the Superkombat Fighting Championship,^[6][7] with its winners competing for the WKN titles.^[8][9]

In January 2011, International Vale Tudo Championship (IVC) announced its return with a new ruleset based on the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts.^[10] On August 20, 2016, WKN brought IVC back to the international scene by co-promoting Micheletti Vs. Ortiz for the WKN World super cruiserweight World title^[11] in the main event of IVC 15 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.^[3] The event also included MMA bouts.^[12][13] Micheletti defeated Ortiz and took the title by knockout in the first round. After IVC 15, there were no more events and the organization is currently on hiatus.^[14] After IVC 15 there were no more events and the organization is currently on hiatus.^[15]

In 2014, WKN launched a world series of international kickboxing events named Simply the Best which was broadcast on FOX Sports^[16] and SFR Sport 5.^[17]

WKN World Cup

WKN World Cup 2009 Paceville, St. Julian's, Malta

The event took place in St. Julian's, Malta on September 19, 2009 with up to 13 countries partaking, including Malta, Corsica, Belgium, Egypt, France, Poland, UK, among others.^[18]

WKN World Cup 2019 Auckland, New Zealand

The event was held from November 28 to November 30, 2019, as an amateur championship contested by international athletes in their respective weight classes. It took place at The Trusts Arena in Auckland, New Zealand with up to 60 countries participating. The event marked the first time kickboxing and mixed martial arts world championships were contested at the same event in New Zealand.^[19] The WKN World Middleweight MMA title bout between Kelvin Joseph and Roan Carneiro^[20][21] as well as the WKN World Super Heavyweight championship bout between the champion Gregory Tony and former UFC Heavyweight title challenger and former Cage Rage World Heavyweight champion Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva were expected to headline the last day of competition.^[22]

The fight between Tony and Silva was cancelled, as Silva was not medically cleared after being knocked out in his previous bout.^[23] Carneiro won the fight against Joseph and took the title by submission in the first round.^[24]

WKN World Cup 2017 Tehran, Iran

The event was held in Tehran, Iran on March 10, 2017 with 12 countries participating. ^{[citation needed]}

WKN Champions

^[25]

Champions by weight class

WKN uses the following weight divisions.

Weight class name	Upper limit	Full Contact Champions	Kickboxing Champions	Oriental Rules Champions	K-1 Rules Champions	Muay Thai Champions
Flyweight	117 lb (53.070 kg)	Vacant	Vacant	Samvel Babayan	Vacant	Stella Ortiz
Super Flyweight	121 lb (54.885 kg)	Ignacio Capllonch	Vacant	Vacant	Vacant	Vacant
Bantamweight	125 lb (56.699 kg)	Emidio Molinari	Vacant	Ignacio Capllonch	Vacant	Carlos Coello
Super Bantamweight	129 lb (58.513 kg)	Gerard Linder	Sinisa Kovavic	Marin Vrdoljak	Brandon Vieira	Vacant	Federico Roma
Featherweight	133 lb (60.328 kg)	Keith Azzopardi	Gaylord Montier	Jay Snoddon	Jay Snoddon	Yordniyom Yuttakangumtorn
Super Featherweight	137 lb (62.142 kg)	Sultanishvili Tsotne	Brandon Vieira	Karim Bennoui	Vacant	Benphet Asontep Phromsorn
Lightweight	142 lb (64.410 kg)	Yannick Reine	Bryan Lang	Vacant	Khyzer Hayat
Super Lightweight	147 lb (66.678 kg)	Kamel Jebir	Mohamed Galaoui	Hakim Ketaieb	Vacant	Vacant
Welterweight	154 lb (69.853 kg)	Bruce Codron	Vacant	Lee Sung-hyun	Vacant	Arbi Emiev
Super Welterweight	161 lb (73.028 kg)	Ludovic Millet	Christian Berthely	Jordi Requejo	Vacant	Youssef Boughanem
Middleweight	168 lb (76.204 kg)	Vacant	Vacant	Milan Kratochvila	Vacant	Toby Smith
Super Middleweight	175 lb (79.379 kg)	Vacant	Dylan Colin	Yohan Lidon	Vacant	Vacant
Light Heavyweight	182 lb (82.554 kg)	Vacant	Vacant	Vacant	Vacant	Steven Mendes Furtado
Super Light Heavyweight	189 lb (85.729 kg)	Vacant	Vacant	Gregory Grossi	Vacant	Rahmani Madani
Cruiserweight	196 lb (88.904 kg)	Mohammed Al-Azzawi	Vacant	Corentin Jallon	Vacant	Artem Levin
Super Cruiserweight	203 lb (92.079 kg)	Riyadh Al-Azzawi	Vacant	Bob Dhcamad Armstrong	Felipe Micheletti	Gerardo Atti
Heavyweight	230 lb (104.326 kg)	Vacant	Vladimir Mineev	Stephane Susperregui	Vacant	Vacant
Super Heavyweight	Unlimited	Vacant	Vacant	Tomasz Sarara	Grégory Tony	Yassine Boughanem