Roberto Cocco
Encyclopedia
Roberto Cocco is an Italian
super middleweight
Muay Thai
kickboxer and boxer
, fighting out of Dojo Miura in his home town of Turin, Italy. He is a former three time I.S.K.A.
kickboxing world champion and one time W.K.N.
Thai-boxing world Champion.
. He began with Judo
but would soon progress to kickboxing
despite initial attempts by his parents to discourage him. Through his teen years he attended several competitions in full contact kickboxing and boxing winning the Italian title at amateur level. In 1995 he started to learn Thai-boxing
under coach Marco Franzo and would turn pro not long after. In 2001, after picking up a number of victories on the domestic scene or across the border in France, Roberto had his first shot at a major title. He faced Carlos Heredia for the I.S.K.A.
world title, winning a decision victory after twelve rounds – something Cocco was not used to, having usually faced opponents over three to five rounds.
As a new world champion, doors opened for Roberto and he found himself in position for more honours; defeating Stephan Mbida to claim the W.P.K.C. intercontinental belt, and then going across to São Paulo, Brazil to unify the I.S.K.A.
and U.W.K.F. world titles. Throughout 2003, Cocco would defend his I.S.K.A. belt for the second time and win the W.K.N.
world title by defeating Carlos Heredia once again, this time only taking one round as opposed to twelve, in a TKO victory.
In 2003 he signed with the recently created SuperLeague
, defeating Foad Sadeghi by knockout
in his organizational debut in Vienna
. By joining the promotion Roberto would face a much stiffer rate of competition, with many of his rivals European and world champions with plenty of fight experience. He found this out to his cost when he faced Joerie Mes
in his next SuperLeague match, losing by KO
in the fourth round. Between 2003 and 2006 (when the promoted ceased to exist), Roberto had a losing record with SuperLeague, good wins against Foad Sadeghi and Moises Baptista De Sousa tempered by a number of defeats, finishing with a 2 and 7 record with the promotion. He had some success on other circuits, however, defeating Roberto Castro in 2005 to claim the W.A.K.O.
Pro world title.
As SuperLeague folded, Cocco started focusing more on professional boxing
defeating former kickboxing rival Alexander Dredhaj on his debut in 2006. He would have a number of boxing bouts in his native Italy, culminating in a fight for the vacant W.B.C.
Mediterranean title, losing a decision to Nikola Sjekloca
. So far, unable to replicate his success on the kickboxing circuit he would be unsuccessful in his two other boxing title fights to date, losing three fights for the Italian title in 2008 and 2010 (two times). Returning to kickboxing action in Europe, in between boxing, Cocco managed to pick up some good wins, defeating Thomas Hladky and multiple Muaythai world champion Rayen Simson
to claim the Kings of Kickboxing Munich title in 2007, but dropping decisions to Yohan Lidon
, Jiri Zak and Dmitry Shakuta
.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
super middleweight
Super middleweight
Super Middleweight is a boxing and Muay Thai weight division that has a weight limit of 168 pounds .- 1960s–1983 :There was interest in a division between Middleweight and Light Heavyweight in the late 1960s, the mid-1970s, and the early 1980s...
Muay Thai
Muay Thai
Muay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...
kickboxer and boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
, fighting out of Dojo Miura in his home town of Turin, Italy. He is a former three time I.S.K.A.
International Sport Karate Association
The International Sport Karate Association is one of the major international bodies regulating karate and kickboxing matches, and is based in the United States...
kickboxing world champion and one time W.K.N.
World Kickboxing Network
The World Kickboxing Network is a professional kick boxing and thai boxing organization and is one of the largest professional sanctioning organizations in the world, represented in more than 100 countries....
Thai-boxing world Champion.
Biography / Career
Roberto started learning martial arts aged six in his home town of TurinTurin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
. He began with Judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
but would soon progress to 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....
despite initial attempts by his parents to discourage him. Through his teen years he attended several competitions in full contact kickboxing and boxing winning the Italian title at amateur level. In 1995 he started to learn Thai-boxing
Muay Thai
Muay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...
under coach Marco Franzo and would turn pro not long after. In 2001, after picking up a number of victories on the domestic scene or across the border in France, Roberto had his first shot at a major title. He faced Carlos Heredia for the I.S.K.A.
International Sport Karate Association
The International Sport Karate Association is one of the major international bodies regulating karate and kickboxing matches, and is based in the United States...
world title, winning a decision victory after twelve rounds – something Cocco was not used to, having usually faced opponents over three to five rounds.
As a new world champion, doors opened for Roberto and he found himself in position for more honours; defeating Stephan Mbida to claim the W.P.K.C. intercontinental belt, and then going across to São Paulo, Brazil to unify the I.S.K.A.
International Sport Karate Association
The International Sport Karate Association is one of the major international bodies regulating karate and kickboxing matches, and is based in the United States...
and U.W.K.F. world titles. Throughout 2003, Cocco would defend his I.S.K.A. belt for the second time and win the W.K.N.
World Kickboxing Network
The World Kickboxing Network is a professional kick boxing and thai boxing organization and is one of the largest professional sanctioning organizations in the world, represented in more than 100 countries....
world title by defeating Carlos Heredia once again, this time only taking one round as opposed to twelve, in a TKO victory.
In 2003 he signed with the recently created SuperLeague
Thai & Kickbox SuperLeague
Thai & Kickbox SuperLeague, commonly known as SuperLeague, was a former kickboxing organization that was based in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Austrian businessmen Marcus Bauer and Willi Wokurka in 2003 with the aim to bring together champion fighters from across the world into a single...
, defeating Foad Sadeghi by knockout
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
in his organizational debut in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. By joining the promotion Roberto would face a much stiffer rate of competition, with many of his rivals European and world champions with plenty of fight experience. He found this out to his cost when he faced Joerie Mes
Joerie Mes
Joerie "The Shark" Mes is a Dutch former welterweight kickboxer, fighting out of Mike's Gym in Amsterdam. He is former Dutch and European Muay Thai champion who later competed in K-1 MAX. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest combination specialists in kickboxing history.-Biography and...
in his next SuperLeague match, losing by KO
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
in the fourth round. Between 2003 and 2006 (when the promoted ceased to exist), Roberto had a losing record with SuperLeague, good wins against Foad Sadeghi and Moises Baptista De Sousa tempered by a number of defeats, finishing with a 2 and 7 record with the promotion. He had some success on other circuits, however, defeating Roberto Castro in 2005 to claim the W.A.K.O.
World Association of Kickboxing Organizations
The World Association of Kickboxing Organisations is one the international organization of kickboxing, and the governing body of Amateur kickboxing sport certified by SportAccord...
Pro world title.
As SuperLeague folded, Cocco started focusing more on professional boxing
Professional Boxing
Professional boxing, or prizefighting, emerged in the early twentieth century as boxing gradually attained legitimacy and became a regulated, sanctioned sport. Professional boxing bouts are fought for a purse which is divided among the fighters and promoters as determined by contract...
defeating former kickboxing rival Alexander Dredhaj on his debut in 2006. He would have a number of boxing bouts in his native Italy, culminating in a fight for the vacant W.B.C.
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
Mediterranean title, losing a decision to Nikola Sjekloca
Nikola Sjekloca
Nikola Sjekloca is a Montenegrin Serb boxer representing Serbia at professional boxing.In 2003, he won the bronze medal in the 75 kg category at the 12th Senior World Boxing Championship in Bangkok, Thailand...
. So far, unable to replicate his success on the kickboxing circuit he would be unsuccessful in his two other boxing title fights to date, losing three fights for the Italian title in 2008 and 2010 (two times). Returning to kickboxing action in Europe, in between boxing, Cocco managed to pick up some good wins, defeating Thomas Hladky and multiple Muaythai world champion Rayen Simson
Rayen Simson
Rayen "Red Bean" Simson is a Surinamese-Dutch former super middleweight Muay Thai kickboxer. Despite not being as well recognised as fellow Dutch Muay Thai fighters Ramon Dekkers and Rob Kaman, he is still one of the best kickboxers ever; claiming 7 world titles in 3 different organizations and...
to claim the Kings of Kickboxing Munich title in 2007, but dropping decisions to Yohan Lidon
Yohan Lidon
Yohan Lidon , is a French Muay Thai kickboxer, famous for his aggressive fighting style and knockout power. He is a 3 time world champion in Muay Thai and kickboxing - including being the first ever It's Showtime 73MAX world champion.-Early life:Yohan Lidon was born on 28 March 1983. He started...
, Jiri Zak and Dmitry Shakuta
Dmitry Shakuta
Dmitry "Shok" Shakuta is a Belarusian Muay Thai super middleweight kickboxer fighting out of Minsk, Belarus for the SK-55 gym. He is an eight time amateur and professional world champion who is most well known for being the It's Showtime 77MAX world champion between 2008-09.-Biography/Career:Born...
.
Titles
Kickboxing:- 2007 "Kings of Kickboxing" Munich preliminary tournament title -75 kg
- 2005 Kombat League Venezia K-1 rules tournament champion -76 kg
- 2005 W.A.K.O.World Association of Kickboxing OrganizationsThe World Association of Kickboxing Organisations is one the international organization of kickboxing, and the governing body of Amateur kickboxing sport certified by SportAccord...
Pro Full-Contact middleweight world champion -75 kg - 2003 W.K.N.World Kickboxing NetworkThe World Kickboxing Network is a professional kick boxing and thai boxing organization and is one of the largest professional sanctioning organizations in the world, represented in more than 100 countries....
Thai-boxing super welterweight world champion -72.6 kg - 2003 I.S.K.A.International Sport Karate AssociationThe International Sport Karate Association is one of the major international bodies regulating karate and kickboxing matches, and is based in the United States...
Full-Contact middleweight world champion -75 kg (2nd title defence) - 2002 U.W.K.F. Full-Contact middleweight world title -75 kg
- 2002 I.S.K.A.International Sport Karate AssociationThe International Sport Karate Association is one of the major international bodies regulating karate and kickboxing matches, and is based in the United States...
Full-Contact middleweight world champion -75 kg (1st title defence) - 2002 W.P.K.C. Thai-boxing intercontinental champion -76 kg
- 2001 I.S.K.A.International Sport Karate AssociationThe International Sport Karate Association is one of the major international bodies regulating karate and kickboxing matches, and is based in the United States...
Full-Contact middleweight world champion -75 kg
Kickboxing record
| Kickboxing record | |
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Legend: |
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External links
See also
- List of male kickboxers
- List of kickboxing organizations
- Muay thaiMuay ThaiMuay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...
- List of K-1 events