Stan Longinidis - Biography and Career

Biography and Career

Stan began his career in 1983, winning two amateur titles before challenging for the World Light Heavyweight Title in 1987, a contest ending in a draw. After being approached by the Jet Centre in Van Nuys, California, Stan quit his day job and traveled to live and train in the United States. He racked up 18 straight wins in the America and won the North American and USA Heavyweight Titles as well as the Australian professional title.

In April 1990 he became the first Australian to win a World Kickboxing Title when he took the K.I.C.K Full Contact Super Heavyweight Title and added two WKA World Titles to his resume in 1991, one being a record 15 second knockout of American Melvin Cole in Queensland, Australia. In 1992 he defended his titles against Branko Cikatic and Grant Barker, a top 10 heavyweight at the time.

After wins over Mitch O'Hello and Adam Watt he took on Dennis Alexio in the most eagerly anticipated superfight at the time and a huge media event in Australia. The fight lasted 7 seconds, with Longinidis dealing the famed American only his second loss in over 50 fights with a low kick in the opening seconds that broke Alexio's leg.

Stan continued to fight and defend his titles as well as adding two additional titles in 1993 and 1994. In 1993, Longinidis fought against Masaaki Satake for UKF World Super heavyweight title held by Satake and WKA Kickboxing World Super heavyweight title held by Longinidis on K-1, and Longinidis lost by decision. Although he lost the bout, he didn't lose his WKA title because he asserted that the bout was not under WKA rules after the bout.

He also became one of the K-1 corporations first contracted stars, competing in early K-1 Grand Prix's.

In 1996 he became the first westerner to fight for and win a prestigious WMC World Super heavyweight Muay Thai Title in Thailand where he was crowned by the King of Thailand. Stan kept fighting on despite a serious knee injury that threatened to end his career, he had a complete knee reconstruction in 1997.

On 15 May 1999 in Lowell Massachusetts, USA Stan fought a challenge bout for Rick Roufus IKF International Kickboxing Federation Pro International Rules Heavyweight World Title. Roufus defeated Longinidis by TKO after Loniginidis suffered a broken bone in his foot at the end of round 9. Roufus was ahead on all 3 judges cards at the time, 89-81, 86-83 and 88-81.

Longinidis fought on until 2000 where he retired after beating Peter "The Chief" Graham in Melbourne, coming out of retirement for one fight in 2003 before calling it quits with an 88-8-5-65ko's record.

Longinidis was awarded in France at a martial arts expo in 2000, a lifetime achievement award recognizing his major influential impact on the early days of the sport, and his status as one of the most famous names in the history of kickboxing.

Stan also successfully trained his younger brother George Longinidis for a World Title fight which was held on 24 July 2009.