Fred Royers
Encyclopedia
Fred Royers is an Dutch
former kickboxer
who competed in the middleweight
division. He was known for his powerful low kicks, which is now a staple of Dutch kickboxing
.
at the age of 16. He went on to become the Dutch national champion on nine occasions and also won medals at the Karate World Championships
in 1979, 1980, 1982 and 1984 as well as the World Games 1981
. He also competed in amateur boxing
.
In 1978, Royers joined the Mejiro Gym
and took up kickboxing
. He became the European Savate
Champion in 1984 when he defeated Robert Paturel
via technical knockout in Paris
, France
. The following year, he won the WKA
Middleweight Championship of the World when he won a 12-round decision victory over Yasuo Tabata. He was forced to retire in 1986, however, after breaking his arm twice in training.
Following his retirement, Royers opened his own gym in his home town of Arnhem
and began working as the Dutch language
kickboxing commentator for Eurosport
in 1990.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
former kickboxer
Kickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
who competed in the middleweight
Middleweight
Middleweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have begun in the 1840s. In the bare-knuckle era, the first middleweight championship fight was between Tom Chandler and Dooney Harris in 1897...
division. He was known for his powerful low kicks, which is now a staple of Dutch kickboxing
Dutch kickboxing
Dutch kickboxing, or Dutch Muay Thai, is a style of kickboxing originating from the Netherlands which has its foundations in Japanese kickboxing and Muay Thai.-History:...
.
Biography and career
Royers began practicing karateKarate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
at the age of 16. He went on to become the Dutch national champion on nine occasions and also won medals at the Karate World Championships
Karate World Championships
The WKF Karate World Championships also known as the World Karate Championships; are the highest level of competition for Karate. The competition is held in a different Country every two years. The most recent events include Madrid in 2002; Monterrey in 2004; Tampere in 2006; Tokyo in 2008, and...
in 1979, 1980, 1982 and 1984 as well as the World Games 1981
World Games 1981
The 1981 World Games were the very first World Games and they were held in Santa Clara, California in the United States. The games featured sports that were not included in the Olympics, including tug-of-war, racquetball, baseball and softball, "artistic roller skating, fin swimming, karate,...
. He also competed in amateur boxing
Amateur boxing
Amateur boxing is practised at the collegiate level, at the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games, and in many other venues sponsored by amateur boxing associations. Amateur boxing bouts are short in duration and fighters wear head protection, so this type of competition prizes point-scoring rather...
.
In 1978, Royers joined the Mejiro Gym
Mejiro Gym
Mejiro Gym is a kickboxing gym headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The gym is considered the "birthplace" of Dutch kickboxing.-History:...
and took up kickboxing
Kickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
. He became the European Savate
Savate
Savate , also known as boxe française, French boxing, French kickboxing or French footfighting, is a French martial art which uses the hands and feet as weapons combining elements of western boxing with graceful kicking techniques. Only foot kicks are allowed unlike some systems such as Muay...
Champion in 1984 when he defeated Robert Paturel
Robert Paturel
Robert Paturel is a French boxer, born in 1952 in Rueil-Malmaison. He won the French Boxing championship six times in France, and became a European champion in 1984....
via technical knockout in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The following year, he won the WKA
World Kickboxing Association
The World Kickboxing Association is one of the oldest and the largest amateur and professional sanctioning organizations of kickboxing in the world for the sport. Its official name is "World Kickboxing and Karate Association"....
Middleweight Championship of the World when he won a 12-round decision victory over Yasuo Tabata. He was forced to retire in 1986, however, after breaking his arm twice in training.
Following his retirement, Royers opened his own gym in his home town of Arnhem
Arnhem
Arnhem is a city and municipality, situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of Gelderland and located near the river Nederrijn as well as near the St. Jansbeek, which was the source of the city's development. Arnhem has 146,095 residents as one of the...
and began working as the Dutch language
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
kickboxing commentator for Eurosport
Eurosport
Eurosport is a pan-European television sport network operated by French broadcaster TF1 Group. The network of channels are available in 59 countries, in 20 different languages providing viewers with European and international sporting events...
in 1990.
Titles
- Amateur boxing
- Oost district champion
- Karate
- 5x Middleweight Champion of the Netherlands
- 4x Openweight Champion of the Netherlands
- 1979 European Champion
- 1980 World Championships: Bronze Medal
- 1981 World Games: Silver Medal
- 1982 World Championships: Bronze Medal
- 1984 European Championships: Bronze Medal
- Kickboxing
- Middleweight Muay Thai Champion of the Netherlands
- Middleweight Kickboxing Champion of the Netherlands
- Euroean Savate Champion
- WKAWorld Kickboxing AssociationThe World Kickboxing Association is one of the oldest and the largest amateur and professional sanctioning organizations of kickboxing in the world for the sport. Its official name is "World Kickboxing and Karate Association"....
European Middleweight Champion - WKAWorld Kickboxing AssociationThe World Kickboxing Association is one of the oldest and the largest amateur and professional sanctioning organizations of kickboxing in the world for the sport. Its official name is "World Kickboxing and Karate Association"....
Middleweight Champion of the World
Kickboxing record
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