Troy Dorsey

Troy Glenn Dorsey (born November 19, 1962) is a former professional boxer and martial arts fighter. He is the only man in history to hold world titles in both karate and boxing.

Martial arts career

Dorsey began his fighting career after an interest in Tae Kwon Do -Karate. After receiving his Black Belt he quickly became a top tournament competitor winning numerous regional and national competitions and earning a reputation in Semi-Contact Karate. After a brief and successful run as an amateur kickboxer he turned professional; winning multiple International And World Kickboxing titles sanctioned by K.I.C.K, ISKA, And WAKO. As a Full-Contact Kickboxer his only loss was a controversial split decision against dominant long time PKA Bantamweight Champion Felipe Garciain Garcia's hometown of Denver, Colorado. Six months later Dorsey would conclusively avenge that blemish in a very one sided rematch which effectively ended Garcia's 8 year reign and ushering him into retirement. Throughout the mid 1980s Dorsey completely dominated his weight class handedly outclassing all challengers.

Milestones of Dorsey's career include a one sided knockout defeat of highly regarded Santae Wilson for the US. Featherweight championship: and his literal destruction of #1 challenger Steve Demechuk. Dorsey would drop Demenchuk no less than 6 times before finally knocking his opponent out.

Dorsey is widely considered one of Full Contact Kickboxings greatest fighters and a much sought after trainer. On August 11, 2001 he was awarded a 7th Degree Black Belt, currently as of 2008 he owns and operates Troy Dorsey's Karate in Mansfield, Texas.

Martial arts highlights

*1983 US KICK Champ - Kickboxing
*1985 WAKO World Champion London, ENG - Troy become only person ever to win two World Titles at one event in both point fighting and full contact
*1987 ISKA World Champion (bantamweight) Won 8.8.87 against Felipe Garcia, El Paso
*1987 Title Defense vs. Steve Demencuk W - 7th round KO
*1988 Title Defense vs. Jeff Watt W - 3rd round KO
*1989 PKO World Champion Gothenburg Sweden
*1992 Title Defense Alexi Nachaev W - 5th round KO
*1994 ISKA World Champion (lightweight) San Jose, CA W - Michel Rochette

Martial arts honors

*1980 Top amateur kickboxer of the year
*1982 Set world record for quickest knockout in kickboxing history in 9 seconds in 1st round
*1990 Tae Kwon Do Times names Troy Dorsey Fighter of the Year
*1991 Inducted into World Martial Arts Hall Of Fame
*1996 Inducted into World Karate Union Hall Of Fame
*1997 Inducted into Texas Martial Arts Hall Of Fame
*2002 Inducted into Martial Arts Digest Hall Of Fame
*2003 Martial Arts Digest names Troy Dorsey Fighter of the Year

Professional boxing career

Dorsey fought out of Fort Worth, Texas around the same time as Donald Curry, as the two shared the same manager.

In 1988 Dorsey became a Professional boxer. As a boxer Dorsey held the NABF Featherweight Title, IBO Super-Featherweight Title and also won the IBF Featherweight World Championship. His style and endurance made him one of the eras most exciting fighters.

Dorsey's boxing resume saw him face some of the best fighters in his class with mixed results. One of Dorsey's greatest performances was a fast paced slugging match with national champion Harold Rhodes for the NABF Featherweight Championship.The two men met each round center ring both firing incrdible volumes of powerful punches until Dorsey dropped Rhodes for a 10 count in the final moments of an exciting bout.Troy Dorsey is perhaps best known for two non-stop wars with IBF World Champion Jorge Paez including a highly controverial decision won by Paez in Dorsey's first title attempt.Brutal battles with Champions Gabriel Ruelas, Manuel Medina, Kevin Kelley Jesse James Leija and Tom Johnson as well as facing Olympian and future 5 time World champion Oscar De la Hoya were milestones in Dorsey's boxing career. Dorsey was known predominantly for his indominatable spirit, amazing physical endurance and a propensity to hammer an opponent with a withering constant barrage of punches. His overall aggressiveness and refusal to backdown prompted former Featherweight champion Kevin Kelley to equate his 12 round decision over Dorsey "Like a night spent in Hell!". Unfortunately Dorsey had a tendency to cut easily and saw several of his later fights stopped due to cuts: this subsequently hastened his retirement from the ring in 1998.

Professional boxing highlights

*1982 Began boxing under Trainer Casey Malone
*1989 NABF Championionship Sioux Falls, Dakota (fight of the year) vs. Harold Rhodes W - 10th round KO
*1991 IBF World Champion Las Vegas, NV vs. Alfred Rangel W - 1st round KO
*1996 IBO World Champion Vejle, Denmark vs. Jimmi BredahlW - TKO 9th round

Professional boxing honors

In 1989 USA Network television named Troy Dorsey vs. Harold Rhodes the Fight of the Year.

In 1991 Dorsey received a proclamation and key from his hometown of Mansfield, Texas and the city proclaimed August 27-31 as Troy Dorsey Week. Mansfield also awards Troy Dorsey the Chamber of Commerce President's Award.

Dorsey set the record for most punches in a boxing match - 1,527 in 12 round fight and was also voted Fighter of the Year in 1992.

Family

Dorsey was born the oldest of 3 brothers. He currently resides in Mansfield, Texas with his wife, and two daughters.

External links

*