Kickboxing Career
Daniels began kickboxing at the age of around 17 under the tutelage of former British Army boxing champion Mickey Byrne. After debuting in 1979, he won his first 12 fights by knockout before losing to Michael J. Heming by disqualification. He then KO'd Heming in a rematch. Daniels also lost two more fights by disqualification.
Now 13 (13)-3, Daniels moved to Florida to continue his career. In his first match in the US, he defeated Sherman "Big Train" Bergman, the only kickboxer to have knocked down Jean-Claude Van Damme, by decision in the opening round of the Sunshine State Tournament in Coconut Grove, Florida. However, Daniels was then eliminated from the tournament when he lost a decision in the semi-finals. He rebounded with an 18-second knockout of Tim "Night Life" Williams at a WKBA event in Orlando, Florida before going on a barnstorming tour fighting in Texas, California and Florida.
In the late 1980s, Daniels moved to California and began practicing Muay Thai at at Benny Urquidez's Jet Center and Yuki Horiuchi's Piston Kickboxing Gym. In November 1990, he won the WKBA California State Light Heavyweight Championship in the US and the PKA World Light Heavyweight Championship in England within the space of a month.
On 3 December 1991 in Birmingham, England, Daniels fought a 3-round, No Decision, exhibition match with Don "The Dragon" Wilson at the World Martial Arts Extravaganza.
Gary Daniels retired in 1993 with a record of 29-4 with 28 knockouts.
In 2008, Daniels made a one-fight comeback in Thailand at the age of 45 and he lost by decision after 5 rounds.
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“Each of the professions means a prejudice. The necessity for a career forces every one to take sides. We live in the age of the overworked, and the under-educated; the age in which people are so industrious that they become absolutely stupid.”
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900)