Manson Gibson facts for kids

Manson Howard Gibson was an amazing American kickboxer. He was born on May 5, 1963. He became a world champion 12 times in both kickboxing and Muay Thai. People knew him for his exciting and unpredictable fighting style. He often used cool spinning moves.

Manson Gibson mixed different martial arts like kickboxing, Taekwondo, and Northern Praying Mantis. Because of his powerful style, some people called him "The Thai Killer" or even "The Black Bruce Lee". He is remembered as one of America's best kickboxers. He won over 100 fights, with more than 80 wins by knockout (KO). About 40 of those knockouts came from his amazing head kicks!

Manson Gibson's Kickboxing Journey

Early Career and Challenges

Manson Gibson started his career with many wins. He quickly won titles like the K.I.C.K. Super Middleweight World Championship. However, he soon found that there weren't many tough opponents left in the United States. He had two losses to a fighter named Rick Roufus.

Fighting in Japan

To find bigger challenges, Manson Gibson went to Japan in the late 1980s and 1990s. While many American fighters were competing for titles at home, Gibson faced top fighters in Japan. He fought and beat famous martial artists like Caesar Takeshi, Tosca Petridis, and Changpuek Kiatsongrit. He even fought under different rules, including Shoot Boxing, K-1, and Muay Thai.

K-2 Grand Prix and Ernesto Hoost

In 1993, Gibson entered the first K-2 Grand Prix in Tokyo. This was a special tournament for lighter heavyweights. In the quarter-finals, he faced Ernesto Hoost, a very famous fighter. Hoost was expected to win easily.

But Gibson showed everyone he could compete with the best. He knocked Hoost down with his special spinning backfist. The fight went to an extra round, and Gibson knocked Hoost down again with a sidekick! Even with two knockdowns, Gibson lost the fight by a close decision. This fight proved he was a top-level fighter.

Return to the United States

Around 1998, Gibson came back to the United States. He defeated another legend, Coban Lookchaomaesaitong, in a fight in Compton, California. Gibson was known for his exciting entrances and even did backflips after winning. That same year, he won the I.K.K.C. Muaythai world title by beating Maurice Travis.

Over the next few years, he defended his I.K.K.C. world title four more times. One of his most notable wins was his second victory over the seven-time World Champion Changpuek Kiatsongrit.

Later Career and Retirement

On April 7, 2000, Gibson won another title. He became the I.K.F. Pro Muay Thai Rules Light Cruiserweight North American champion. He won this title in Green Bay, Wisconsin, by knocking out Phil Petit in the first round with a spinning backfist. Gibson later gave up this title in 2005 when he moved to a higher weight class.

As he got older, around 2002, Gibson started to face tougher challenges. He lost his I.K.K.C. world title to Manu N'toh from France. In 2004, he won against Heath Harris, showing he could still compete. Gibson even tried MMA briefly in 2006. By the end of 2009, after several losses in title fights, Manson Gibson decided to retire from fighting.

Championship Titles

Manson Gibson won many titles throughout his career. Here are some of his major championships:

• 2004 I.K.K.C. Pro Muay Thai Light Heavyweight World Champion
• 1999 I.K.F. Pro Muay Thai Light Cruiserweight North American Champion
• 1998–2002 I.K.K.C. Muay Thai Light Heavyweight World Champion (he defended this title four times!)
• 1989 Shoot boxing Hawk Class World Champion
• Ring Fighting Arts World Champion
• U.K.F. Super Middleweight World Champion
• K.I.C.K. Light Heavyweight Champion
• K.I.C.K. Super Middleweight World Champion
• W.A.K.O. (PRO) Super Middleweight World Champion
• W.K.A. Super Middleweight World Champion
• I.K.L. Middleweight Champion

Kickboxing Record

Kickboxing Record

115 Wins (80 (T)KO's), 14 Losses, 2 Draws
Date	Result	Opponent	Event	Location	Method	Round	Time
2009-12-05	Loss	Shawn Yarborough	WCK Muay Thai @ Buffalo Bill's	Primm, NV, USA	TKO (Quit)	2	3:00
This fight was for the vacant W.B.C. Muaythai light heavyweight United States title.
2008-06-18	Loss	Edwin Aguilar	Muay Thai Fight Night	Montego Bay, Jamaica	TKO (Quit)	3	3:00
This fight was for the vacant I.K.F. Pro Muaythai Cruiserweight World Title.
2007-07-07	Loss	Denis Grachev	Hot Summer Fights	Inglewood, CA, USA	TKO (Corner Stop/Knees)	3	0:27
This fight was for the vacant I.K.F. Pro Muaythai Light Cruiserweight World Title.
2004-11-20	Loss	Clifton Brown	Matter of Pride 8	Los Angeles, CA, USA	TKO (Leg Kicks)	4
This fight was for the I.K.K.C. cruiserweight world title.
2004-10-21	Win	Heath Harris	Guts and Glory	San Bernardino, CA, USA	Decision (Unanimous)	5	3:00
Manson Gibson won the vacant I.K.K.C. Pro Muaythai light heavyweight world title.
0000-00-00	Win	Bill Rastafar		United States	KO (Left Hook)	1
2003-00-00	Win	Wrath White		United States	Decision (Unanimous)	3	3:00
2002-11-15	Loss	Manu N'toh	W.C.K. "A Matter of Pride VI"	Victorville, CA, USA	Decision (Unanimous)	5	3:00
Manson Gibson lost his I.K.K.C. Muaythai light heavyweight world title.
2002-03-23	Loss	Nick Karagiannidis	Master Toddy Show @ Stardust Casino	Las Vegas, NV, USA	Decision	5	3:00
2001-12-14	Win	Changpuek Kiatsongrit	W.C.K. @ Palms Casino Resort	Las Vegas, NV, USA	KO (Spinning Heel Kick)	2
Manson Gibson kept his I.K.K.C. Muaythai light heavyweight world title (4th time defending it).
2000-12-02	Loss	Robert Sarkozi	10th World Shidokan Invitational, Quarter Finals	Chicago, IL, USA	DQ (Constant Fouling)	4
2000-07-04	Win	Phil Petit	Stadium View Sports Bar	Green Bay, WI, USA	KO (Spinning Back Fist)	1
Manson Gibson won the vacant I.K.F. Pro Muaythai Light Cruiserweight North American title. The weight class was later changed, but Gibson's title remained Light Cruiserweight.
1999-09-11	Loss	Richard Stellwagen	Summer Brawl	Franklin Park, IL, USA	Decision (Split)	8	2:00
This fight was for the vacant I.K.F. Pro Full-Contact Light Heavyweight United States title.
1998-07-07	Win	Coban Lookchaomaesaitong	Crystal Park Casino Outdoor Show	Los Angeles, CA, USA	TKO (Right Back Kick)	5	1:59
1998-06-27	Win	Maurice Travis		Los Angeles, CA, USA	Decision	5	3:00
Manson Gibson won the vacant I.K.K.C. Muaythai light heavyweight world title.
1998-04-26	Win	Changpuek Kiatsongrit	Shooto "Shoot the Shooto XX"	Tokyo, Japan	Decision (Unanimous)	3	3:00
1996-07-14	Draw	Yarsin Loogklongtan	Shoot Boxing - S-Cup 1996, Super Fight	Tokyo, Japan	2 Ext.R Decision Draw	5	3:00
1996-01-27	Draw	Yoji Anjo	Shoot Boxing Carnival Ground Zero Yokohama	Yokohama, Japan	Decision Draw	1	20:00
1995-10-15	Win	Luc Verheye	MA Japan Kickboxing Federation	Tokyo, Japan	Decision	5	3:00
1995-03-25	Win	Bartolomeo Danbrosio	World Cup Of Martial arts	Ledyard, CT, USA	KO	1	0:31
1994-06-10	Win	Taro Minato		Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA	KO	3	2:34
Manson Gibson won the Minato U.K.F Super middle weight world title.
1994-00-00	Win	Sergei Mayfat	HardKnock 4	Atlantic City, NJ, USA	Decision	10	2:00
1993-12-29	Loss	Ernesto Hoost	K-2 Grand Prix '93, Quarter Final	Tokyo, Japan	Ext.R Decision (Majority)	4	3:00
1993-01-30	Win	Taro Minato	MA Japan Kickboxing Federation	Tokyo, Japan	Decision	5	3:00
1992-07-30	Loss	Taiei Kin	Seidokaikan Kakutogi Olympic II	Tokyo, Japan	DQ (Illegal Punch)	4
1992-03-21	Win	Sayidkhan Kiatpathan	Martial Arts Japan Kickboxing Association	Japan	TKO (Spinning High Kick)	2
0000-00-00	Win	Luc Verheye		Tokyo, Japan	Decision	5	3:00
1990-07-06	Win	Hideo Suzuki	'90 Kakutougi no saiten	Tokyo, Japan	KO	2	1:58
1990-07-01	Win	Naoyuki Taira	Shoot boxing BATTLE GAME	Tokyo, Japan	KO	4	4:01
Manson Gibson won the Taira Shoot boxing Hawk Class world title.
1990-01-03	Win	Koichi Koide	Dojo 20th Anniversary kick	Tokyo, Japan	KO	1
0000-00-00	Win	Johnny Davis		United States	KO	9
Manson Gibson won the Davis PKA middleweight USA title.
1989-05-26	Win	Caesar Takeshi	Tokyo Korakuen Hall Shoot Boxing	Tokyo, Japan	KO (Spinning Mid Kick)	1	4:28
Manson Gibson won the Caesar Shoot boxing Hawk Class world title.
1989-04-01	Loss	Rick Roufus		United States	Decision
1987-00-00	Loss	Rick Roufus		United States	Decision
Legend:       Win       Loss       Draw/No contest       Notes

Mixed Martial Arts Record

Manson Gibson also had a short career in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).

See also

• List of male kickboxers
• List of K-1 Events