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Salvatore "Sam" Greco (born 3 May 1967) is an Australian retired full contact karateka, heavyweight K-1 kickboxer, mixed martial artist. He was the 1994 Karate World Cup champion and holds notable kickboxing victories over Branko Cikatic, Ernesto Hoost, Mike Bernardo, Stefan Leko, and Ray Sefo, as well as MMA victories over Heath Herring and Shungo Oyama.

Sam Greco
BornSalvatore Greco
(1967-05-03) 3 May 1967 (age 55)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Other namesSlam 'em
Sam The Man
NationalityAustralian
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight103 kg (227 lb; 16.2 st)
DivisionHeavyweight
StyleKyokushin Karate
Seidokaikan Karate
Kickboxing
TeamTeam Greco
RankBlack Belt in Kyokushin
Years active17 (1988–2005)
Kickboxing record
Total32
Wins19
By knockout11
Losses9
By knockout7
Draws2
No contests2
Mixed martial arts record
Total5
Wins3
By knockout2
By submission1
Losses1
By decision1
Draws1
Other information
OccupationRestaurant owner, trainer, actor
Websitewww.samgreco.com.au
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
last updated on: 22 January 2010

Biography and career


Salvatore Greco was born on 3 May 1967, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and grew up in the suburb of Brunswick. In 2015, Greco stated that he considered the part of Brunswick that he grew up in was 'rough' at the time, and ultimately contributed to his fitness & mental development from a young age. His Italian-born father, Vittorio, encouraged him to get involved with soccer from an early age and joined the local Italian backed club, Juventus.[1]


Soccer


Sam Greco
Personal information
Full name Salvatore Greco
Date of birth (1967-03-05) 5 March 1967 (age 55)
Place of birth Melbourne, Australia
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1975–1983 Brunswick United Juventus[2]
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1984 Brunswick United Juventus 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23 February 2020
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23 February 2020

Greco joined Juventus (later Brunswick United Juventus) at the age of six, playing as a junior for nine years where in 1983 he would win the club's best-and-fairest for their under-sixteen squad.[3] Prior to the 1984 National Soccer League season, Greco signed a one-year semi-professional contract with the senior squad, who had just been promoted from the Victorian State Premier League to the former national league, making him the club's youngest player to sign for the senior squad.

Greco made his national debut in the fifth round of the season on 1 April 1984, two days before his seventeenth birthday. Greco started and played the whole home match against Footscray JUST at Gillon oval that finished in a 0–2 loss.[4] At the conclusion of the season and after ten years playing for his local club, Greco decided to focus solely on karate and discontinued his soccer career at the age of seventeen.[5]


Karate


Greco started training in Kyokushin karate at the age of 11 and commenced tournament fighting at the age of 18 establishing himself as one of Australia's best Kyokushin fighters in the late 1980s and early 1990s winning the heavyweight division of the Australian championships five times in 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992.[6][7][8][5] In 1988, he fought in the heavyweight division of the 1st Commonwealth Karate Championships held in Sydney placing 3rd with English champion Michael Thompson winning.[7] In 1991, he competed in the 5th World Open Tournament in Japan losing to Michael Thompson in the first round on decision due to accidentally punching him in the face. In 1992, he competed in the heavyweight division of the Oyama Cup Singapore International Open in Singapore placing 3rd with Papua New Guinean Walter Schnaubelt winning.[7]

After the Singapore tournament in October 1992, Sam left Kyokushin fighting as an amateur to join Seidokaikan karate to become a professional karate fighter.[5] Fellow Kyokushin champion Andy Hug had recently joined Seidokaikan and won the 2nd Karate World Cup in October and then in 1993 Michael Thompson also joined Seidokaikan. In June 1993, Sam had his first karate fight at the K-1 Sanctuary III a kickboxing tournament promoted by Seidokaikan karate founder Kazuyoshi Ishii. Sam fought Keisuke Nakagawa who had placed 6th in the 2nd Karate World Cup. In October 1993, Sam competed in the 3rd Karate World Cup defeating Minoru Fujita to make the quarter finals to fight Toshiyuki Atokawa with the judges decision a draw after the first round, and again in the second round, with the fight awarded to Toshiyuki Atokawa on weight difference, who went on to place 3rd. In October 1994, Sam competed in the 4th Karate World Cup making the final after winning four fights. In the final he fought Michael Thompson winning in the first round with a left low kick followed by a straight right body shot to become the Karate World Cup Champion.


K-1


Sam had his K-1 debut in 1995 at K-1 Hercules. Following year he appeared in his first K-1 World Grand Prix tournament where he suffered his first loss in semifinals against Musashi.

After retiring in 2005 from professional competition, Sam Greco worked as trainer for other fighters, including Bob Sapp.


Professional wrestling


Greco was originally signed to professional wrestling company World Championship Wrestling, but never wrestled for them, as it folded before he could debut beyond a backstage vignette.[9][10] He would not make his wrestling debut until November 2002, when he signed up by Wrestle-1, then a co-promotion between K-1 and All Japan Pro Wrestling. In the first Wrestle-1 event, Greco teamed up with masked lucha libre exponent Dos Caras Jr. against Kaz Hayashi and Taiyo Kea, all while wearing his own mask and playing a Dos Caras body double named "Sam Grecaras". They won, with Greco receiving good reviews in the process.[11]

He wrestled again in December 2003, appearing in AJPW to team up with Keiji Mutoh and Abdullah the Butcher against Taka Michinoku, Jamal and D'lo Brown from the villainous faction RO&D. His third and last venture in professional wrestling would be two years later, as part of the briefly revived Wrestle-1 concept. This time he formed a team with fellow K-1 fighter Jan Nortje against Giant Bernard and The Predator, who defeated them when Bernard pinned Nortje.[12]


Acting career


In 1995 Greco had a small part as an enforcer in the Richard Norton movie Under the Gun, also known as Iron Fist, which was filmed in Victoria.[13] He played the stunt double for retired professional wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin in the 2007 action thriller The Condemned and also had a small part in the 2008 Australian boxing drama film, Two Fists One Heart which was shot in Western Australia. He has also appeared occasionally in movies as a fight consultant and martial arts advisor.

He had a small part in the fourth episode of the Australian mini-series Underbelly, playing nightclub bouncer Bruno Bolotzi. The episode was first broadcast in February 2008.

He had a small part in an episode of the Australian comedy Pizza, playing the Roman soldier Glutious Maximus. He made another appearance for Pizza this time in a two-part episode Holiday Pizza, playing Pauly's Italian cousin Luigi. The last appearance he made in Pizza was in the Cracker Pizza episode, playing Crackerus in the last season of the series. He also had a part in the Australian comedy Swift and Shift Couriers as Louie "Luigi" Marietti. Both Pizza and Swift and Shift Couriers were created by Greco's good friend Paul Fenech.

He played the Masked Wrestler Zarkos in Scooby-Doo. In the movie Zarkos appears as one of N'Goo Tuana's henchmen, but later he sneaks up on Daphne and captures her and steals the Daemon Ritus from her. Later in the movie he tries to sneak up on Daphne and capture her again but instead they end up fighting; near the end of the fight, he grabs Daphne and throws her onto his back and puts her in a hold but she escapes and defeats him.


Personal life


On 23 March 2018, Greco suffered a heart attack prior to and during his fighter Jimmy Crute competing in the Hex Fight Series and had triple bypass surgery.[14][15]


Titles and accomplishments



Kickboxing record


Kickboxing Record
19 Wins (11 (T)KO's, 8 decisions), 9 Losses, 2 Draws
Date Result OpponentEventLocation MethodRoundTime
2003-10-11Loss Peter GrahamK-1 World Grand Prix 2003 Final EliminationOsaka, JapanTKO (Leg injury)20:30
Fails to qualify for K-1 Grand Prix '03 Final.
2000-04-23Loss Ernesto HoostK-1 The MillenniumOsaka, JapanTKO (Corner Stoppage)33:00
1999-12-05Loss Mirko Cro CopK-1 Grand Prix '99 Final Round Semi FinalsTokyo, JapanTKO (Left Low Kick/two knockdowns)22:50
1999-12-05Win Ray SefoK-1 Grand Prix '99 Final Round Quarter FinalsTokyo, JapanDecision (Unanimous)33:00
1999-10-05Win Stefan LekoK-1 World Grand Prix '99 Opening RoundOsaka, JapanDecision (Majority)32:35
Qualifies for K-1 Grand Prix '99 Final.
1999-07-18Loss Peter AertsK-1 Dream '99Nagoya, JapanKO (Right high kick)21:38
1999-06-20Win Mike BernardoK-1 Braves '99Fukuoka, JapanDecision (Unanimous)53:00
Wins vacant W.A.K.O. Pro World Muay Thai Super Heavyweight Title.
1999-03-22NC Samir BenazzouzK-1 The Challenge '99Tokyo, JapanNo Contest (Greco right leg injury)23:00
1998-12-13Loss Andy HugK-1 Grand Prix '98 Final Round Semi FinalsTokyo, JapanDecision (Majority)33:00
1998-12-13Win Ernesto HoostK-1 Grand Prix '98 Final Round Quarter FinalsTokyo, JapanTKO (Corner stoppage/cut)23:00
1998-09-27Win Matt SkeltonK-1 World Grand Prix '98 Opening RoundOsaka, JapanDecision (Unanimous)53:00
Qualifies for K-1 Grand Prix '98 Final.
1998-05-24Win Carl BernardoCrash at the CrownMelbourne, AustraliaTKO5
1998-07-18Loss Jérôme Le BannerK-1 Dream '98Nagoya, JapanKO (Punch)22:07
1997-11-09Loss Francisco FilhoK-1 Grand Prix '97 Final Quarter finalTokyo, JapanKO (Right hook)10:15
1997-09-07Win Jean-Claude LeuyerK-1 Grand Prix '97 1st RoundOsaka, JapanKO (Right hook)21:55
Qualifies for K-1 Grand Prix '97 Final.
1997-07-20Win Branko CikatićK-1 Dream '97Nagoya, JapanKO (Right hooks)12:58
1997-04-29Draw Andy HugK-1 Braves '97Fukuoka, JapanDecision draw53:00
1996-12-08Draw Jérôme Le BannerK-1 Hercules '96Nagoya, JapanDecision draw53:00
1996-10-18Win Gerry HarrisK-1 Star Wars '96Yokohama, JapanTKO12:38
1996-09-01NC MusashiK-1 Revenge '96Osaka, JapanNo contest30:22
1996-05-06Loss MusashiK-1 Grand Prix '96 Quarter FinalsYokohama, JapanTKO (Doctor stoppage/broken toe)13:00
1996-03-10Win Perry TelgtK-1 Grand Prix '96 Opening BattleYokohama, JapanDecision (Unanimous)53:00
Qualifies for K-1 Grand Prix '96 Final.
1995-12-09Win Duane Van Der MerweK-1 HerculesNagoya, JapanKO (Kick)11:24
1995-10-22Win Stan LonginidisThe Best of the Best Tournament, FinalMelbourne, AustraliaDecision (Unanimous)33:00
Wins The Best of the Best Tournament.
1995-10-22Win Ben HamiltonThe Best of the Best Tournament, Semi FinalsMelbourne, AustraliaDecision (Unanimous)33:00
1995-10-22Win Sam SweetThe Best of the Best Tournament, Quarter FinalsMelbourne, AustraliaKO1
1995-09-03Loss Peter AertsK-1 Revenge IIYokohama, JapanDecision (Unanimous)53:00
1995-03-03Win Vjatcheslav SoukhanovK-1 Grand Prix '95 Opening BattleTokyo, JapanKO (Punch)31:33
Qualifies for K-1 Grand Prix '95 Final - would be unable to participate due to injury.
1994-12-10Win Masaaki SatakeK-1 LegendNagoya, JapanKO (Right punch)21:27
Wins Satake's W.K.A. World Muay Thai Super Heavyweight Heavyweight title.
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

Mixed martial arts record


Professional record breakdown
5 matches 3 wins 1 loss
By knockout 2 0
By submission 1 0
By decision 0 1
Draws 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 3-1-1 Shungo Oyama KO (knees and punches) Hero's 3 9 July 2005 1 2:37 Tokyo, Japan
Win 2-1-1 Heath Herring TKO (knee injury) Hero's 1 26 March 2005 1 2:41 Saitama, Saitama, Japan
Loss 1-1-1 Lyoto Machida Decision (split) K-1 MMA ROMANEX 22 May 2004 3 5:00 Saitama, Saitama, Japan
Win 1-0-1 Stefan Gamlin Submission (rear naked choke) K-1 Beast 2004 in Niigata 14 March 2004 1 0:25 Niigata Prefecture, Japan
Draw 0-0-1 Masaaki Satake Draw Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2001 31 December 2001 3 5:00 Saitama, Saitama, Japan

See also



References


  1. "Master of karate and friendship for everyone | Latrobe Valley Express". www.latrobevalleyexpress.com.au. Archived from the original on 4 February 2016.
  2. the soccer club was known as Juventus prior to 1980
  3. "Moreland Zebras on Facebook". Facebook. Archived from the original on 30 April 2022.[user-generated source]
  4. "1984 National Soccer League results".
  5. Boyle, Jarrod (8 May 2014). "Sam Greco: Experience is worth more than anything". International Kickboxer. Archived from the original on 29 March 2015.
  6. "Sam Greco Australia's Full Contact King". Blitz Australasian Martial Arts Magazine. ISSN 0818-9595. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  7. "Karate Karate Karate". Blitz Australasian Martial Arts Magazine. Instructors Fighting Techniques Collector's Edition. ISSN 0818-9595. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  8. "Tony Bowden: The Shihan who never gave up". Blitz Australasian Martial Arts Magazine. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  9. "WCW Thunder". p.W.w. Everything Wrestling. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  10. Panichi, James. "Slam'em Sam! The former kickboxing champ is taking his killer glance to Atlanta". Australian Sports Entertainment. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  11. Wilson, Kevin. "All Japan Wrestle-1". Puroresu Central. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  12. Wilson, Kevin. "World-1 Grand Prix". Puroresu Central. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  13. "Under the Gun (1995)". IMDb.
  14. Mitchell, Neil (4 April 2018). "Former kickboxing champ "shaken" by his experience of a heart attack". 3AW. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  15. Sam Greco (13 August 2019). "Open Heart Triple Bypass Surgery". Sam Greco Official page. Retrieved 19 October 2019 via Facebook.

Further reading





На других языках


- [en] Sam Greco

[es] Sam Greco

Salvatore "Sam" Greco (nacido el 3 de mayo de 1967 en Melbourne, Australia) es ex kickboxer y exluchador profesional de artes marciales mixtas[1] de ascendencia italiana que peleó en Kyokushin karate, kickboxing profesional y torneos de K-1.[2] Empezó a competir en torneos de full contact, en 1995 tuvo su debut en K-1 en el evento "K-1 Hercules", un año después participó en su primer torneo de "K-1 World Grand Prix". En el año 2005 tras haberse retirado de la competición profesional Sam se dedicó a entrenar a otros luchadores como Bob Sapp. Desde el año 2007 se ha dedicado a actuar en series de televisión si bien anteriormente ya había trabajado como actor en películas como "Under the Gun", "Scooby-Doo" o en la comedia australiana "Fat Pizza".[3]



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