Jérôme Le Banner

Infobox Martial artist biography
name = Jérôme Le Banner


imagesize = 200 px
caption =
birthname =
nickname = Geronimo, Battle Cyborg
nationality = flagicon|FRA France
dateofbirth = Birth date and age|1972|12|26|mf=y
placeofbirth = Le Havre, France
fightingoutof =
dateofdeath =
placeofdeath =
height = height|m=1.90
weightlb = 264.5
weightkg = 120
reachin =
reachcm =
style = Kickboxing
stance = southpaw
team = Le Banner Xtream Team
trainer =
yearsactive = 17 (1990-present)
boxingwins = 4
boxingkowins = 3
boxinglosses = 0
boxingkolosses =
boxingdraws =
boxingncs =
kickboxingwins = 74
kickboxingkowins = 59
kickboxinglosses = 15
kickboxingkolosses = 9
kickboxingdraws = 1
kickboxingncs = 1
mmawins = 3
mmakowins =
mmasubwins =
mmalosses = 1
mmakolosses =
mmasublosses = 1
mmadraws = 1
mmancs =
amwins =
amkowins =
amsubwins =
amlosses =
amkolosses =
amsublosses =
amdraws =
amncs =
other =
occupation =
spouse =
children =
relatives =
students =
university =
url = http://www.lebannerofficial.com
boxrec = 39471
sherdog = 3423

Jérôme "Geronimo" Le Banner (born December 26, 1972), known as well as "Hyper Battle Cyborg" or "The Bulldog of Normandy" is a French professional kickboxer and K-1 superstar, famous for his aggressive fighting style and knockout power.cite web | url=http://www.so-net.ne.jp/feg/k-1gp/fighter/jerome_le_banner.htm | title=K-1 Official Profile | publisher=K-1 | accessdate=2006-07-19 ] .

He holds notable wins over Peter Aerts, Ernesto Hoost, Remy Bonjasky, Francisco Filho and Mark Hunt. He is considered one of the best fighters to never win a Grand Prix.

Biography & Career

Jérôme Le Banner was born in the French city of Le Havre, in the "région" of Normandy. Le Banner started training judo at the age of 6. When he was 14, Bruce Lee's Fist of Fury influenced him so much that he started practicing karate instead, while trying to incorporate techniques of Jeet Kune Do he had seen in the film. Jeet Kune Do gave him southpaw stance, which he has maintained throughout his career, even though he is right-handed. [cite web
url=http://www.ironlife.com/forum/showthread.php?t=62646&highlight=lebanner+interview
title="Le Banner Exclusive Interview"
accessdate=2005-09-19
publisher=www.ironlife.com]

At the age of 18, he debuted in his first Full Contact Kickboxing competitions. By 20 he held the ISKA French title and soon after that, he won the European belt against Stéphane Reveillon, and the Intercontinental belt in South Africa against Mike Bernardo.

On March 3, 1995 Jerome Le Banner made his K-1 debut, winning five round decision over Nokveed Devy. Two months later, on May 4, 1995 he made his first K-1 World Grand Prix appearance in Tokyo, Japan, knocking out both Masaaki Satake and Mike Bernardo, before losing to Peter Aerts in tournament finals.

On December 7, 2002 at K-1 World Grand Prix 2002, after defeating Musashi in the quarterfinals, and Mark Hunt in the semis, Le Banner faced three time World Champion Ernesto Hoost in the tournament final. Following an evenly fought first two rounds, Hoost shattered Le Banner's arm with three roundkicks in the third. Despite suffering near career ending injury, Le Banner was able to recover and returned to the ring six months later in K-1 Paris 2003, winning the fight by punch combinations over Belarusian Vitaly Akhramenko.

On December 2, 2006, after his loss against Semmy Schilt at K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 finals, Le Banner announced his semi retirement from tournament fighting, restricting future appearances to K-1's Superfight events.

In early 2007, after his fight at K-1 World GP 2007 in Yokohama he was forced to have a knee surgery and was not expected to return to the ring until 2008, however due to his another fast recovery K-1 announced that Le Banner will participate on September 29, 2007 at the K-1 World GP 2007 in Seoul Final 16 against Russian kickboxer Ruslan Karaev. Just two days before the fight, Karaev had to pull out and was replaced by a former Korean Taekwondo practitioner, Yong Soo Park. It took Le Banner only 0'54" seconds to knock out Park in the first round by straight punch and qualify himself for K-1 World GP 2007 Final held in December 8, 2007 held at the Yokohama Arena, Japan. [cite web
url=http://www.k-1.co.jp/k-1gp/top792.htm
title="In with the Old and the New at the K-1 Final Elimination"
accessdate=2007-09-29
publisher=K-1 Grand Prix Website]

On December 8, 2007, in his 9th K-1 World GP appearance of his career, Le Banner defeated Choi Hong Man in the quarter finals by unanimous decision before facing the reigning K-1 champion Semmy Schilt in semis. Le Banner finished the first round up on scorecards. In the beginning of the second round Schilt landed a lowkick that seemed to hurt Le Banner's right knee, which he had surgery on in early 2007. The fight was eventually stopped by Le Banner's corner throwing in the towel to avoid further damage to an injured knee. [cite web
url=http://k-1sport.de/en/database/show_fighter.php?id=59
title="Fighter's Profile Jerome Le Banner"
accessdate=2007-12-09
publisher=K-1 Sport.de]

Titles

*2002 K-1 World Grand Prix Finalist
*2001 K-1 World Grand Prix in Osaka Champion
*2000 K-1 World Grand Prix in Nagoya Champion
*1999 K-1 World Grand Prix 3rd Place
*1996 I.S.K.A. World Super Heavyweight Thaiboxing Champion
*1995 K-1 World Grand Prix Finalist
*W.K.N. World Muay Thai Super Heavyweight Champion
*French & European Kickboxing Champion

=Kickboxing Recordcite web
url=http://www.hublot.ch/hublot_prod/site/hublot/data/celebrities/pdf/DossierJLBenglish9black.pdf
title=JLB Dossier
last=
first=
publisher=www.hublot.ch
date=
accessdate=2007-12-03
format=PDF] =

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto; font-size:85%"
-
style="text-align: center" colspan=8|74 Wins (59 (T)KO's, 15 decisions), 15 Losses
-
align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Date
align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Result
align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Opponent
align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Event
align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Method
align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Round
align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Time
-
2008-12-06

flagicon|NED Remy Bonjasky
K-1 World GP 2008 Final, Tokyo, Japan



-
2008-09-27
yes2Win
flagicon|JPN Junichi Sawayashiki
K-1 World GP 2008 Final 16, Seoul, Korea
Decision
3
3:00
-
06/29/2008
no2Loss
flagicon|NED Semmy Schilt
K-1 World GP 2008 in Fukuoka, Japan, +100kg Title
Decision
3
3:00
-
12/08/2007
no2Loss
flagicon|NED Semmy Schilt
K-1 World GP 2007 Final, Japan
TKO (Corner stoppage)
2
1:02
-
12/08/2007
yes2Win
flagicon|KOR Choi Hong Man
K-1 World GP 2007 Final, Japan
Decision
3
3:00
-
09/29/2007
yes2Win
flagicon|KOR Yong Soo Park
K-1 World GP 2007 in Seoul Final 16, Korea
KO (Right punch)
1
0:54
-
03/04/2007
no2 Loss
flagicon|JPN Junichi Sawayashiki
K-1 World GP 2007 in Yokohama, Japan
Decision
3
3:00
-
12/02/2006
no2Loss
flagicon|NED Semmy Schilt
K-1 World Grand Prix 2006, Japan
Decision
3
3:00
-
09/30/2006
yes2Win
flagicon|KOR Choi Hong Man
K-1 World GP 2006 in Osaka, Japan
Decision (Ext. R)
4
3:00
-
07/30/2006
yes2Win
flagicon|NED Remy Bonjasky
K-1 World GP 2006 in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Decision (Split)
3
3:00
-
11/19/2005
no2Loss
flagicon|NED Peter Aerts
K-1 World Grand Prix 2005, Japan
Decision (Ext. R)
4
3:00
-
09/23/2005
yes2Win
flagicon|TRIGary Goodridge
K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 in Osaka, Japan
TKO (Three knockdowns)
1
2:13
-
07/02/2005
yes2Win
flagicon|BLR Dimitry Podgaisky
Le Grand Tournoi 2005, Paris, France
KO (Right hook)
1
1:49
-
05/27/2005
yes2Win
flagicon|FRA Cyril Abidi
K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 in Paris, France
TKO (Referee stoppage)
5
2:53
-
04/30/2005
yes2Win
flagicon|GER Oliver van Damme
Post Tenebra Cup 2005, WKA World Championship, Geneva
KO (Left hook)
1

-
12/04/2004
yes2Win
flagicon|JPN Hiromi Amada
K-1 World Grand Prix 2004, Japan
KO (Low kicks)
2
1:03
-
09/25/2004
no2Loss
flagicon|RSA Francois Botha
K-1 World Grand Prix 2004 in Tokyo, Japan
TKO (Corner stoppage)
3
3:00
-
07/17/2004
yes2Win
flagicon|USA Terrence Reasby
K-1 World Grand Prix 2004 in Seoul, Korea
KO (Knee strike)
1
0:53
-
09/21/2003
yes2Win
flagicon|RSA Shaka Zulu
K-1 Survival 2003, Japan
KO (Right low kick)
2
1:10
-
06/14/2003
yes2Win
flagicon|BLR Vitaly Akhramenko
K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 in Paris, France
KO (Right punch)
2
0:28
-
12/07/2002
no2Loss
flagicon|NED Ernesto Hoost
K-1 World Grand Prix 2002, Japan
KO (Right mid-kicks)
3
1:26
-
12/07/2002
yes2Win
flagicon|NZL Mark Hunt
K-1 World Grand Prix 2002, Japan
Decision
3
3:00
-
12/07/2002
yes2Win
flagicon|JPN Musashi
K-1 World Grand Prix 2002, Japan
KO (Punches)
2
0:51
-
10/05/2002
yes2Win
flagicon|TRI Gary Goodridge
K-1 World GP 2002 in Saitama, Japan
KO (Right cross)
1
0:42
-
08/28/2002
yes2Win
flagicon|USA Don Frye
PRIDE Shockwave, Japan
KO (Right hook)
1
1:30
-
07/06/2002
yes2Win
flagicon|CRO Sinisa Andrijasevic
ISKA Full-contact World Heavyweight title, France
TKO (Corner stoppage)
4
2:00
-
05/25/2002
yes2Win
flagicon|NZL Mark Hunt
K-1 World GP 2002 in Paris, France
TKO (Corner stoppage)
2
3:00
-
03/03/2002
yes2Win
flagicon|JPN Hiromi Amada
K-1 World GP 2002 in Nagoya, Japan
KO (Right punch)
1
1:42
-
12/08/2001
no2Loss
flagicon|NZL Mark Hunt
K-1 World Grand Prix 2001, Japan
KO (Right hook)
2
2:32
-
08/19/2001
yes2Win
flagicon|BEL Marc de Wit
K-1 Andy Memorial Japan 2001 GP Final, Japan
KO (Right cross)
2
1:45
-
06/24/2001
yes2Win
flagicon|GER Stefan Leko
K-1 Survival 2001, Japan
Decision
5
3:00
-
04/29/2001
yes2Win
flagicon|AUS Adam Watt
K-1 World Grand Prix 2001 in Osaka, Japan
KO (Punch rush)
1
0:46
-
04/29/2001
yes2Win
flagicon|BRA Ebenezer Braga
K-1 World Grand Prix 2001 in Osaka, Japan
KO (Left punch)
1
1:03
-
04/29/2001
yes2Win
flagicon|CZE Pavel Majer
K-1 World Grand Prix 2001 in Osaka, Japan
KO (Left punch)
1
2:15
-
03/17/2001
style="background: #c5d2ea"|NC
flagicon|RSA Mike Bernardo
K-1 Gladiators 2001, Japan
No Contest
1
3:00
-
07/30/2000
yes2Win
flagicon|NED Ernesto Hoost
K-1 World GP 2000 in Nagoya, Japan
TKO (Corner stoppage)
1
3:00
-
07/30/2000
yes2Win
flagicon|DEN Nicolas Pettas
K-1 World GP 2000 in Nagoya, Japan
TKO (2 knockdowns)
1
3:00
-
07/30/2000
yes2Win
flagicon|NZL Mark Hunt
K-1 World GP 2000 in Nagoya, Japan
Decision
3
3:00
-
07/13/2000
yes2Win
flagicon|ENG Shawn Johnson
ISKA Championship Kickboxing, Las Vegas, NV
KO (Left cross)
1

-
05/28/2000
yes2Win
flagicon|RSA Jan Nortje
K-1 Survival 2000, Japan
KO (Left hook)
1
1:07
-
04/23/2000
yes2Win
flagicon|BRA Francisco Filho
K-1 The Millennium, Japan
KO (Left punch)
1
2:02
-
03/17/2000
yes2Win
flagicon|GRE Paris Vassilikos
ISKA Championship Kickboxing, Las Vegas, NV
KO (Right hook)
2
1:09
-
12/05/1999
no2Loss
flagicon|NED Ernesto Hoost
K-1 World Grand Prix 1999, Japan
KO (Right hook)
2
0:26
-
12/05/1999
yes2Win
flagicon|NED Peter Aerts
K-1 World Grand Prix 1999, Japan
KO (Left hook)
1
1:11
-
10/05/1999
yes2Win
flagicon|ENG Matt Skelton
K-1 World GP 1999 Final Elimination, Japan
KO (Right hook)
1
1:59
-
09/19/1998
yes2Win
flagicon|BRA Espedito da Silva
WKN World Championship Kickboxing, Atlanta, USA
KO (Right hook)
1

-
07/18/1998
yes2Win
flagicon|AUS Sam Greco
K-1 Dreams 1998, Japan
KO (Punch)
2
2:07
-
05/24/1998
yes2Win
flagicon|BIH Combat Ziyo
K-1 Braves 1998, Japan
TKO
3
2:52
-
11/09/1997
no2Loss
flagicon|NED Ernesto Hoost
K-1 World Grand Prix 1997, Japan
KO (Right hook)
1
1:15
-
09/07/1997
yes2Win
flagicon|USA Rick Roufus
K-1 World GP 1997 Opening, Japan
TKO (Referee stoppage)
3
2:05
-
07/20/1997
no2Loss
flagicon|NED Peter Aerts
K-1 Dreams 1997, Japan
KO (Left high kick)
2
1:19
-
04/29/1997
no2Loss
flagicon|NZL Ray Sefo
K-1 Braves 1997, Japan
TKO
1
1:31
-
02/01/1997
yes2Win
flagicon|USA Maurice Smith
ISKA World Superheavyweight title, France
Decision
5
3:00
-
12/08/1996
style="background: #c5d2ea"|Draw
flagicon|AUS Sam Greco
K-1 Hercules 1996, Japan
Decision draw
5
3:00
-
10/18/1996
yes2Win
flagicon|NED Ernesto Hoost
K-1 Star Wars 1996, Japan
TKO (Corner stoppage)
2
2:57
-
09/01/1996
yes2Win
flagicon|JPN Takeru
K-1 Revenge 1996, Japan
KO (Right cross)
4
2:49
-
06/01/1996
yes2Win
flagicon|USA Curtis Schuster
Le Choc des Champions, ISKA Super heavyweight title
Decision
5
3:00
-
03/10/1996
no2Loss
flagicon|CRO Mirko Filipovic
K-1 World GP 1996 Opening, Japan
Decision
5
3:00
-
12/09/1995
no2Loss
flagicon|SUI Andy Hug
K-1 Hercules 1995, Japan
Decision
5
3:00
-
09/03/1995
yes2Win
flagicon|NED John Kleijn
K-1 Revenge 2, Japan
KO (Right hook)
2
1:10
-
05/04/1995
no2Loss
flagicon|NED Peter Aerts
K-1 World Grand Prix 1995, Japan
KO (Right body shot)
1
1:37
-
05/04/1995
yes2Win
flagicon|RSA Mike Bernardo
K-1 World Grand Prix 1995, Japan
KO (Right low kick)
2
2:05
-
05/04/1995
yes2Win
flagicon|JPN Masaaki Satake
K-1 World Grand Prix 1995, Japan
KO (Punch)
3
2:32
-
03/03/1995
yes2Win
flagicon|Thailand Nokveed Devy
K-1 World Grand Prix 1995 Opening, Japan
Decision
5
3:00
-

Mixed martial arts record

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto; font-size:85%"
-
style="text-align: center" colspan=8|3 Wins (3 KOs), 1 Loss (1 submission), 1 Draw.
-
align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Date
align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Result
align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Opponent
align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Event
align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Method
align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Round
align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Time
-
03/15/2006
yes2Win
flagicon|USA Jimmy Ambriz
K-1 Hero's 4
KO (Punch)
1
2:04
-
12/31/2005
yes2Win
flagicon|RUS Alan Karaev
K-1 PREMIUM 2005 Dynamite!!, Japan
KO
2
1:14
-
03/26/2005
yes2Win
flagicon|JPN Yoshihiro Akiyama
K-1 Hero's 1
KO (Knees)
1
2:24
-
12/31/2004
style="background: #c5d2ea"|Draw
flagicon|USA Bob Sapp
K-1 PREMIUM 2004 Dynamite!!, Japan
Decision Draw
4
3:00
-
12/31/2001
no2Loss
flagicon|JPN Tadao Yasuda
Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2001 K-1 vs. Inoki
Submission (Forearm choke)
2
2:50
-
###@@@KEYEND@@@###

Professional Boxing Record

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto; font-size:85%"
-
style="text-align: center" colspan=8|4 Wins (3 (T)KOs), 0 Losses.
-
align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Date
align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Result
align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Opponent
align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Event
align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Method
align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Round
-
11/14/1998
yes2Win
flagicon|HUN Ferenc Deák
L'Espace François Mitterand, France
DQ
2
-
06/20/1998
yes2Win
flagicon|USA James Henderson
The Moon, Tallahassee, FL, USA
KO
4
-
04/10/1998
yes2Win
flagicon|USA Jerry Reynolds
USA
TKO
1
-
02/24/1998
yes2Win
flagicon|ROM Tudor Panait
Oporto, Portugal
TKO
4
-
###@@@KEYEND@@@###

See also

*List of male kickboxers
*List of K-1 Events
*List of kickboxing organizations

References

External links

* [http://www.lebannerofficial.com Official Website]
* [http://www.k-1.co.jp/k-1gp/fighter/jerome_le_banner.htm Le Banner's Official K-1 profile]
* [http://kakutougi.info/content/view/327/ Interview with Jerome Le Banner]
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1544372/ JLB Biography at IMDB]