Rick Roufus - Biography - Kickboxing Career

Kickboxing Career

After he won some national titles of karate as amateur career, he debuted as a professional kickboxer. In the beginning of his career, he fought under the rule of Full contact where leg kicks, elbow strikes, and knee attacks were not allowed.

In January 1986, Roufus fought against Sylvester Cash for American national title of PKC at middleweight. He won this fight, and he got his first title.

In April 1987, he fought against John Moncayo for the world title of KICK at super middleweight. KICK means "Karate International Council of Kickboxing". Roufus knocked out Moncayo at 7R, and he won his first world title in his career.

In November 1988, he fought against Changpuek Kiatsongrit from Thailand. This was the first time for Roufus to fight under the ordinary kickboxing rule which allows leg kicks. At 1R, Roufus knocked down Changpuek twice with punches, but his legs started being damaged by Changpuek's kicks. As time goes on, Roufus started running away from Changpuek because of pain. At 4R, Roufus couldn't continue to fight because his legs were damaged heavily as Changpuek kept kicking them, and the referee stopped the bout when he fell down on the canvas. His both legs were broken and he needed time to come back.

In August 1989, he fought against Marek Piotrowski from Poland to defend his national title, but he lost by unanimous decision at the end of 10R, and failed to retain his title.

In April 1990, he had his first professional boxing match and fought against Ricardo Dabney, but he lost by decision at the end of 4R.

In January 1994, Roufus fought against Michael McDonald from Canada for the vacant title of International Kickboxing Federation Professional Full contact at light heavyweight. He knocked out McDonald in 43 seconds at 1R, and he became the first world champion of IKF Full contact rule at light heavyweight.

Roufus shifted his focus to professional boxing again in 1995. After five consecutive wins, he drew with journeyman Louis Monaco in January 1996. In August, he challenged the vacant title of WBC Continental Americas at cruiserweight. He knocked out Sean McClain at 4R, and won his first and only title in boxing. In February 1997, he fought against Arthur Williams who became IBF world cruiserweight champion later for the vacant title of USBA at cruiserweight, but he was knocked out at 4R and failed to win his another title in boxing.

In 1998, Roufus was sanctioned as the first world champion of International Kickboxing Federation Professional International rules at heavyweight as he requested to shift his title and he met IKF's conditions which was to defend the title within 18 months. In addition, Roufus got his first daughter in this year.

In May 1999, Roufus fought and defeated Stan Longinidis from Australia by TKO to defend his IKF International (Leg Kicks Allowed) World Title. At the end of round 9, Longinidis could not answer the bell due to the pain he suffered from breaking his foot. Roufus won by TKO and at the time he was ahead on all 3 judges cards, 89-81, 86-83 and 88-81.

In November 2001, Roufus had a boxing match and fought against Dale Brown who was the North American and Canadian national champion, but he was knocked out at 9R, and this was his last match in boxing.

5-3-2002 in his rematch with Michael McDonald he tore his ACL (Knee). However, Roufus came back to fight, and defeat Maurice Smith, a year later.

On September 29, 2003 Roufus Officially announced his retirement to the International Kickboxing Federation and returned IKF his title. However he eventually came back to fight again in K-1 and MMA.

On October 22nd, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA Roufus was scheduled to fight Mighty Mo for the first ever, International Kickboxing Federation LEGENDS Title. However Mo failed to pass his Nevada State Athletic Commission Physical so Roufus won the title by forfeit. On the night Roufus went on to fight a non scoring "Exhibition" bout against Anthony Newman.