Rick Roufus facts for kids

Rick John Roufus (born June 3, 1966) is a retired American kickboxer. He also competed as a professional in boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA). Rick "The Jet" Roufus was a very successful fighter. He won many world championships around the world. He held titles in different weight classes, like super middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight.

Roufus won titles from all the big kickboxing groups. These include PKA, IKF, ISKA, FFKA, and KICK. He was known for his strong boxing skills and powerful kicks. Today, Roufus helps train new fighters for PKA Worldwide. In 2012, he was added to the World Kickboxing League Hall of Fame. This means he is recognized as one of the best in the sport.

Rick Roufus's Fighting Journey

Early Life and Training

Rick Roufus started learning martial arts when he was just 5 years old. His father, Pat J. Roufus, taught him. His dad was a famous referee and a black belt in taekwondo. Rick learned taekwondo from his father. He quickly became good at karate competitions. He had his first professional kickboxing fight in May 1985. He won that fight against U.C. Owens.

Becoming a World Champion

In April 1987, Rick fought John Moncayo for a world title. This was for the KICK super middleweight championship. Rick knocked out Moncayo in the seventh round. This win made him a world champion for the first time.

Learning New Kicks

When Rick first started, he fought in "full contact" rules. This meant he couldn't use leg kicks, elbow strikes, or knee attacks. But in November 1988, he fought Changpuek Kiatsongrit. This fight used different rules that allowed leg kicks. Rick wasn't ready for these kicks. He lost the fight because of many low kicks. After this, Rick and his brother Duke learned how to use and defend against leg kicks from Thai experts.

Big Fights and Wins

On June 19, 1991, Rick fought Marek Piotrowski again. Piotrowski had beaten him before. This time, Rick won by a strong knockout in the second round. He won the ISKA Full Contact Light Heavyweight World title.

In December 1991, Rick defended his ISKA title against Rob Kaman. Rick was first declared the winner. But the fight was later called a "no contest." This happened because Kaman's team said one round ended too early. They fought again in February 1994 in Paris. Rick won that fight by knockout in the second round.

On January 22, 1994, Rick won another world title. He defeated Michael McDonald for the IKF Pro Full Contact Rules Light Heavyweight World Title. He won by knockout in the first round.

He also fought Jean-Yves Thériault in March 1994. Rick won by a unanimous decision. He defended his PKC Full Contact World Light Heavyweight title. Later that year, he fought Ernesto Hoost. Rick was ahead for most of the fight. But he lost by knockout in the eleventh round.

Boxing Career

Rick also tried professional boxing. He did well and won a title. In August 1996, he won the WBC Continental Americas cruiserweight title. He knocked out Sean McClain to win his only boxing title.

Return to Kickboxing and MMA

After some losses in boxing, Rick went back to kickboxing. He won the K-1 USA tournament in August 1998. He quickly beat Pedro Fernandez and Jerome Turcan.

In May 1999, Rick won the IKF Pro International Rules Heavyweight World title. He defeated Stan Longinidis. Longinidis had to stop fighting in the ninth round because of a broken foot.

Rick also tried Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). His first MMA fight was in February 2008. He lost that fight. But he won his second MMA fight in March 2008. He won by a unanimous decision. Overall, he had four wins and six losses in MMA.

In 2002, Rick competed in the K-1 USA Las Vegas tournament. He won his first two fights. In the final, he faced Michael McDonald again. Rick had hurt his knee in an earlier fight that night. He fought carefully because of the injury. The fight was very close. It was declared a draw, and Rick had to stop because of his injury. McDonald won the tournament.

In October 2011, Rick was supposed to fight Mighty Mo for the IKF Legends Title. Mo couldn't fight, so Rick won by forfeit. They later fought in September 2012. Rick won that fight by a split decision.

His last professional fight was in October 2012. He was 46 years old and fought James Wilson, who was 25. The fight ended in a draw.

Personal Life

Rick Roufus is the older brother of Duke Roufus. Duke is also a kickboxer and a well-known instructor in Muay Thai and mixed martial arts.

Titles and Achievements

• Kickboxing
  • 2011 I.K.F. International Legends Title
  • 2003 K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 USA runner up
  • 2002 K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Preliminary USA runner up
  • 1999 I.K.F. International Rules Heavyweight World Champion
  • 1998 K-1 USA Grand Prix '98 Champion
  • 1996 I.S.K.A. Full Contact Heavyweight World Champion
  • 1994 I.K.F. Full Contact Light Heavyweight World Champion
  • 1991-94 P.K.C. Light Heavyweight World Champion
  • 1991-94 I.S.K.A. Full Contact Light Heavyweight World Champion
  • 1990 F.F.K.A. Light Heavyweight World Champion
  • 1989 F.F.K.A. Super Middleweight World Champion
  • 1987 K.I.C.K. Super Middleweight World Champion
  • 1986-89 P.K.C. Middleweight U.S.A. Champion
  • 1986 P.K.C. Light Middleweight U.S.A. Champion
• Boxing
  • 1996 W.B.C. Continental Americas Cruiserweight Champion

Hall of Fame 2012 WORLD KICKBOXING LEAGUE