Paul Vizzio

Paul Vizzio is best known for holding World Champion titles over a 23 year period from 11 professional kickboxing organizations in 4 different weight divisions: Featherweight, Super Featherweight, Lightweight, and Super Lightweight. His professional kickboxing record is 47 wins and 1 loss. Thirty-six wins were by knockout.

Prior to becoming a professional kickboxer, Vizzio fought in full contact bouts sponsored by the Eastern Kung-Fu Federation. These contests were fought without weight divisions, with little or no protective gear or gloves, and were often fought on wooden floors. They resembled more the “Extreme Fighting” matches of the 21st century than they did any other organized fights of their time. His record in these bouts was 55 wins and 0 losses with 54 knockouts.

The most well-known of the kung-fu matches was the highly publicized “death match” in 1977 with Lee Man Chin, Grandmaster of The Seven Animals System. Upon arriving in the U.S., Chin issued a challenge to all American martial artists. At the request of the Grandmaster of the Fu Jow Pai system, Ng Wai Hong, Vizzio accepted the challenge. The fight was broadcast on a Chinese radio in New York. Vizzio won by a knockout in 6 seconds. A Chinese language publication that annually named the 10 biggest news events in the Chinese-speaking world, ranked Vizzio’s victory number three for the year.

The lone defeat of Vizzio’s professional fighting career came in July 1981. Cliff Thomas successfully defended his Super Lightweight crown with a TKO of Vizzio in the ninth round due to an injured jaw Vizzio received during training, in a bout that was televised on NBC Sports World. Vizzio took Thomas’ title in a return match in November of that same year, never to relinquish it.

As a youth, Vizzio also had 140 amateur boxing bouts with organizations such as the Police Athletic League. His record in those fights is not known.